The illusion of authority

I have a trade and you have a desk with a phone.  Sometimes I wonder what crazy idea the powers that be will come up with next.  Most of the time it's something simple that they can control such as what color our floor outline will be.  The management is dysfunctional at best.  I think they disagree in an effort to find something to talk about.  The group consists of one common sense person, one person who knows, and two who don't have a clue.

The two that don't have a clue stick together.  They aren't that bright but keep employed by playing a game of cat and mouse with the company rules.  They've been playing that game for over 20 years. The woman never dials my extension.  Instead she will page me over the intercom.  She loves an audience.  If she notices a mistake she'll point it out in front of everyone in an attempt to humiliate that person.  She can't realize that most of the things she points out are wrong but because she does it around a group of people she rarely gets corrected.  Her guy counterpart demands respect and strict following of the rules.  I went to the bathroom and he was there brushing his hair.  I relieved myself and washed my hands.  He was still there combing his hair.  I looked at him through the mirror and didn't see any lights on.  I wonder what person told him that hairstyle is ok.  He has the hair of a 70s style bike gang but the job of Micheal Scott from the office.  He rides a Harley to work and walks around like he hasn't stepped off it yet.  I wonder if he has rickets.  His son used to work here.  He died in a car accident.  I feel bad for him.  That must have been terrible.

My direct supervisor is the one who actually knows what's going on.  He gets frustrated by the constant jabber of the other three.  They hold a lot of meetings and invite him.  I can tell he doesn't want to be there but if he doesn't go they'll make decisions without him.  He's a good guy and it isn't fair he has to listen to all that nonsense.  He is front the east coast and thinks everyone from Nebraska must be either a bitch or a 70s biker.

The common sense guy doesn't have an education.  He gets paid more that the other 3 people.  He likes the shop to be clean and organized.  That's a great idea and every manager on the planet has that idea already.  He shouldn't get paid that much because he has the big idea of keeping a clean shop.  He is well liked and gets results.  If you are his friend then he'll confide in you and give you more responsibility.  The Harley rider used to be in charge.  The area was a mess and the Harley rider's boss decided to let the common sense guy run the show.  Common sense came in and turned things around.  OMG thought Harley rider's boss and promoted common sense.  Common sense made a few mistakes but keeps the peace and runs a cleaner shop so everyone's happy.

All these people are in charge.  They tell us what we can and can't do.  They hold meetings and discuss how to make us more profitable and productive.  If they do a good job then they'll be rewarded.  Their job is to make us more productive.  If they want us more productive then they must challenge us.  They must reward us for good performance.  They must teat us like they would want to be treated.