Complaining as a proxy for empowerment

And why the workplace is this cesspool of complaints

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

I used to have this colleague. Brilliant operator, very good at her job, very meticulous and professional.

But then every encounter and meeting with her would have to start with her going through a bout of complaining first.

‘Did you see how he handled that ? Shocking’.

‘I don’t even know how this company is making money’

‘That request of hers ? She told me it’d take 5 minutes, it took me 5 hours!!!’

At first I found it endearing. Who doesn’t like to let loose a little and let a few things out ? Afterall, it’s a well-known fact that complaining about the boss is the ultimate bonding exercise between colleagues.

But then it started to get on my nerves, just the sheer consistency of it. But also, the vacuity and uselessness of it. When the complaining would get a little out of hand, I’d try to suggest a few solutions because she really felt like she was in pain and lashing out.

But she’d hear none of it and choose to keep digging up the dirt.

And then once the dirt digging was done, she’d turn into this ass-kicking professional once more and get on with it, brilliant as always.