Communication skills part 2

You wanted to see me? Come in, David.

So, David.

How’s it going?

Work-wise? Um, I think - I think we’re back on track. I’m sorry about the mistake last week. That was an oversight. Yeah. Not to worry. I mean, we’ve managed to cover the deficit and sort of hide it away. So, it’s only affected the targets very slightly, so put that out of your head. Right, OK. Well, um - And your personal life, how - I mean, I don’t want to pry or anything, David. But how are things? I notice you’re still wearing your wedding ring. I just haven’t got around to that. It’s fine, I mean, it’s fine. You know, Judy is not around anymore, so. No, no. Yeah. But work, you wanted to talk to me about work?

Well, I just wondered if what’s happening - you know, I know you’ve been ill. Oh, yeah. And well, you are ill all the time. Well obviously, I know. Thank you for sorting out the time off for the dialysis. That’s absolutely fine. We are very happy to accommodate your condition and do what we can to help you. You know, because we care, we do. But I just - be careful here, I just wondered if your personal issues are affecting your work. What has - what? I mean, the thing is with the dialysis, it’s very exhausting. Is it? So I mean, it’s very draining, yeah, when you have it. OK.

I think what happened with the mistake and everything was just the lack of concentration. Do you see what I mean? Because of the illness. Because I’m just feeling so tired. Yeah. Yeah. OK. Was that it? It’s more - hmm. It’s about your demeanour, you know, your attitude. I just feel you’re a bit low energy. You know, when you come in, you’re quite… you can be quite miserable.

Right, I see. OK. Sorry about that. No, don’t apologise. I thought if I reflect back to you how you’re coming across, because you might not even be aware of it. And then, you can work with that and maybe see about - I don’t want to say cheering up a bit, but yeah. You know, just being a bit more positive. Right, OK. All right. I will work on that, being a bit more positive. Yeah. I know you can’t force the issue. But you know what my motto is sometimes, ‘fake it until you make it’. Right. I love that. Hmm. I’ll try to fake it then. It works. Thank you. It works. Thank you for your advice, yeah.

Anyway, good luck with everything. Thank you. But like I say, let’s have a think. Because you’re team leader. I mean, I don’t have to tell you your job, you know it inside out. You’ve been here 10 years, you know. There is nothing you don’t know about the job, and I know that. Right. It’s just - it’s just the way you are influencing your team. OK. I’ll work on that and I’ll take on your advice, thank you very much. Is that everything? Smashing. Well, is there anything you want to tell me? No, absolutely not. You know, because this is sort of a reciprocal thing. No, I’m very happy to go. Is that all right? Absolutely. It’s just, I’ve got work.

Thank you so much.