... my co-worker is really stupid, she does not use common sense what-so-ever. I want to let her know that she needs to smarten up but I dont want to insult her. How can I be nice about it?
2006-10-04 11:35:28 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
First of all in my line of work you need these characteristics, how she got the position is way beyond me. She is always forgetting things, and everyone else sees it. She's about to get fired because of this.
2006-10-04 11:42:35 · update #1
Plus she is always coming to me and asking, at first I was okay with it. And she's been working there longer than I have. I grasp pretty quickly. I'm not trying to be mean. And I am smart!
2006-10-04 11:56:16 · update #2
Say the light isn't working upstairs and if she doesnt get then there is no use in trying.........
2006-10-04 11:38:12 · answer #1 · answered by Beachey Boy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no way to tell someone that you find them defective (in whatever way you find them defective) without insulting them.
How is she supposed to "smarten up" -- grow more brains?
You might ask her, next time she asks the same question again, to please write it down, as you've answered it before. Or produce a "cheat sheet" of things she asks over and over, and give it to her, saying it might help her.
Or send her to other sources of information, such as any procedures manuals there are. (More businesses should have written sets of how to deal with things -- they're great both for training new people and as references.)
You might bring to your supervisor's attention that you have to spend a lot of time explaining things to your co-worker, and so can't give your full attention to what you're doing. Your supervisor might start realizing she doesn't know what she's doing.
But you can't tell someone they are too stupid, or that they need to become smarter.
Also consider, although it's annoying to have to keep answering questions, how bad is it, really? You're smarter than she is, and she's kinda dumb. Perhaps the thing to feel is pity.
PS: first time through I missed the fact that she's about to be fired. So the problem is going to be solved. Why worry about it?
2006-10-04 21:15:11 · answer #2 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You say you don't want to insult her, but yet you are thinking of telling her that she is not very smart. How exactly do u think she will feel when she is told that according to you she's "really stupid" and "does not use common sense". There is no nice way to tell someone something that insulting.
By the way you already insulted her by thinking that way about her.
2006-10-04 19:08:57 · answer #3 · answered by solgiver 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, if she is that ditsy, there is really nothing you can say, she wont understand. Perhaps after she looses her job she will figure it out. And really why does this concern you so much any way? Do your job and leave her alone. Perhaps if you didn't spend so much time pointing out to others her short comings they wouldn't even notice. Are you getting your work done spending so much time worrying about your co-worker is a total waste of company time. Spend a little more time examining your own short comings we all have some. Yes even you ! Good luck
2006-10-04 18:55:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You say your smart?? Hmmmm....I agree with the majority of the answerer's here...It would be VERY rude and hurtful to tell someone such a thing, i wouldn't say that was being smart...
Have u ever considered the thought that she may have problems, merely being forgetful doesn't necessarily mean she's dumb.. Perhaps you should both sit down and do an IQ test together and see who comes out on top..you may be very surprised and might reconsider your thoughts...
2006-10-04 19:29:02 · answer #5 · answered by Susie2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem is that if she's not smart, she's just not smart.
Telling her this will only insult her. She won't be able to gain common sense if she doesn't already have it.
If she's not capable of keeping her job, it is probably something that's really hard for her anyway, so she's probably better off going somewhere else. It's kind of you to be concerned, but it's really not your job to help her keep hers.
2006-10-04 18:42:53 · answer #6 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there is no nice way and telling someone they aren't bright is just mean anyways...however if her lack of smarts means she is not doing her job correctly which is affecting how you do yours,(not doing her work ,giving you an extra load)then i would document and report...i wouldn't want to take the blame for someone else's short comings..this may seem like being a rat, but this is real life
2006-10-04 18:46:40 · answer #7 · answered by figgy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't do it. Help her in whatever way you can or want but don't tell her that. It won't change a thing and it makes you a really mean person to say it to her. If she gets fired so be it, let it be her problem, not yours.
2006-10-05 11:51:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't sound like you care too much about her if you refer to her as "really stupid". If she is a friend, you might just want to give her suggestions - eg. "don't forget your things...." It's a tough call. If she is not a friend, it's better to leave well enough alone and let her get fired.
2006-10-04 19:20:26 · answer #9 · answered by TML ♥'er 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By keeping your mouth shut. Telling someone that they need to 'smarten up' is beyond rude, its mean. There is no nice way to tell someone that! She may very well be stupid or have no common sense, but if she could get it don't you think she would???? Who are you to point out her shortcomings? We all have them!!! Let her be & mind your own buisness.
2006-10-04 18:39:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anne A 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is not your place to bring this matter to your co-worker's attention. You should speak with her supervisor and let that person handle it.
2006-10-04 21:12:18 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋