hiddenmuse | The curse of being nice

Being nice to others is a good thing - but it can come back & kick you in the ass if you're not careful.

Case in point - dealing with some of the grumpuses that call the office, and are (unfortunately) now my clients - no longer calls I just pass onto someone else. {aside: saying that I have clients is just wierd to me. never thought I'd actually be saying that, you know?} I've let loose about a few of those choice individuals, and today, I really got a doozy. Let me tell you, spending an hour on the phone with someone can either be a good thing, or the bane of your existence for that span of time. Yes, I was on the phone with a client for an entire friggin' hour. The conversation dominated by her almost telling me her life story - as well as revealing a few details we didn't have in the first place ... about insurance coverage.

It started out with her calling to gripe at us for not getting her applications out to her - and for our (wholly unintentional) delay in getting them started in the first place. During the course of the conversation, when I wasn't feeling as though getting information from her would be as easy as pulling teeth, I heard bits and pieces of her life story. Then, things come out about coverage she has & feels that she still needs. About how the coverage for her dwelling and property should be equal, blah blah blah.

I was already antsy, because I knew that I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon and was hoping to get there on time. When it was determined that she wasn't going to let up anytime soon, I settled into a bit of resignation. And pulled out my appointment card from the doctor's office ... and discovered that my appointment was for 4:50 p.m., not 5:20 p.m., as I'd thought it was.

By the end of the conversation, she was going on about how she was looking forward to working with me, that I was very knowledgeable, that I had a great personality. Even though I raised my voice to her at one point (okay, maybe I didn't, but it felt like I did), because she was getting snappish at me.

If nothing else, I'd heard from Sherry that I'm doing very good work for the department - and some of my previous busywork (entering claim payment info) will be given to the receptionist to do. Then again, it was stuff that I was doing as a receptionist anyways. It's only fair. :) And this way, I can focus more on helping my clients.

{Edited to correct late-night spelling errors, and a really FUBARed comment}