Judgmental Co-Worker

 Re: March 4 - "At Home with Mr. Badger"

Assignment:

Mr. Badger is never, ever judgmental.  As he listened to his friends, "he never said, "I told you so!" or "You should have done so-and-so!"   Or, you should not have done something else."  Do you know anyone who is the opposite of Mr. Badger, and who is always saying such things?  If yes, share with us a short piece about this character and the effect on you of this person's mode of speech.

Yes, I can think of a person who is the complete opposite of Mr. Badger. Her name is Karen, and she's always ready with a judgmental comment. Karen was a co-worker of mine, and I have to say, her mode of speech can be really draining. 

Karen has an opinion on everything, and she's not afraid to share it. Whether it's a project we worked on, a colleague's outfit, or even someone's choice of lunch, Karen always has something negative to say. She's quick to point out flaws and mistakes, and she loves to say things like, "I told you so" or "I knew that would happen." 

The effect of Karen's speech on me, and I suspect on others too, is that it creates an atmosphere of tension and negativity. It's hard to work on a project or even have a conversation with her because you're constantly waiting for the next judgmental comment. I've found that I tend to avoid Karen whenever possible, which is a shame because she's actually quite knowledgeable in her field. 

I've also noticed that Karen's negative attitude seems to be contagious. When she's around, it's easy to start feeling down and pessimistic. On the other hand, when Mr. Badger is around, I feel uplifted and encouraged. His non-judgmental attitude creates a space where people feel safe to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of being criticized. 

In conclusion, having a judgmental person like Karen in the workplace can be challenging, but it also highlights the importance of having people like Mr. Badger around. His non-judgmental attitude is a breath of fresh air and a reminder that we can choose to be positive and supportive in our interactions with others. 

PS: Karen was not her real name. 

Georgia P