Trade Your Raven for a Dove

"Not Hermia, but Helena I love.
Who will not change a raven for a dove?"

---Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream

Years ago, Julie worked for a Raven. This Raven was a mean, nasty lady who was sour to the core and was bitter about life. All the Raven had was her career, and it was common for others to feel bad for the Raven---until she bore her true colors---then they didn't feel sorry for her any longer.

Julie, unfortunately had to deal with the Raven day in and day out. Snide remarks, demeaning jokes, negativity toward any new situation and an inability to be pleased with Julie's best efforts were an hourly occurrence. Julie was nearing the end of her rope and was about to quit, when she decided to talk to the VP about the Raven. To Julie's surprise, the VP said, "I understand....you're not the first person to complain about her. In fact, I have had some personal problems with the Raven as well. Rest assured something will be done about this."

Two weeks later, the Raven announced that 'she' decided to go part-time so she can pursue other 'options.' Shortly thereafter, the VP hired a Dove---a sweet, kind, gently, tactful, professional, caring and courteous leader! All of this positive change was too much for Julie to handle and she actually broke down with tears of joy. She was able to hang onto the job she loved, she had a new boss who actually cared about her and when she went to the VP's office to thank him, he said, "I don't know what you're talking about....I didn't do anything (wink and a smile)."

Kyra was another Raven whose tyrannical ways tormented folks at a small company for nearly 10 years. She was rude, crude and mean. She would yell and scream at her colleagues in public, as an attempt to humiliate them into submission. She would criticize their every attempt and would belittle them in front of their supervisor.

Repeated attempts at asking their supervisor to do something about her were ineffective. It seemed Kyra's bullying had a grip on her as well. Attempts to have HR intervene and 'write her up' were ineffective as well. Most HR departments are as impotent as a Nevada Boxing Commissioner, so there is little they can do besides 'talk' to the offending and offended parties. That added up to HUNDREDS of wasted hours over that 10 -year period.

Things changed when a new co-worker was hired. He was Kyra's equal, but not her supervisor. He lead a team that Kyra quite often bullied, but that was about to be stopped cold! Having dealt with Ravens like Kyra all his life, the new guy turned the tables and gave Kyra exactly what she had been dishing out. He confronted her about her bullying, her belittling, her yelling and her screaming. He asked her if she was doing it because she's intimidated by her lack of skills or if its due to the fact that she feels inept because she can't communicate effectively! Her response: she cried in front of everyone!

When she yelled and screamed, he yelled and screamed right back. And she cried. When she made snide comments about someone, he would make snide comments about her. And she cried. It was obvious.....if the supervisors and HR weren't going to do anything about her, the new guy was going to turn up the heat and cook the Raven for dinner.

It only took 4 months for the Raven to quit! And, only a few weeks later, she was replaced with a Dove who is the most wonderful person anyone could hope to work with!

Trade your Ravens for Doves because life is too short and work is too long to have to suffer!