From the time I started working, I've always used the Caltrain to commute to work. It's just convenient to take the train as your daily commute, since you can relax, beat the hassle of traffic and of course save up on GAS bigtime. Given that my employer pays for my caltrain pass, this has been my preferred commute. Caltrain is very popular in the Bayarea and gets you to and from San Jose to SFO in an hour's time or so.
My boss retired in late January and we got a new boss (who was hired out of retirement), quite ironical. She is not really new to me, since she was working in my department when I first started in this job and then moved to another department and came back again. We used to take the train to go home in the evenings during those days.
Last week, we bumped into each other at the train station on our evening ride back home. While we both sit in adjacent offices and have lots of daily interactions on work etc during the day. It was surprising to see her at the train station as well, after work. Considering that we both have the same 10 minute walk from our office to the station and we left separately. Well,things have changed since the last time we were commuters, meaning, she is now my direct supervisor, it does feel weird to be at this close quarters with her. While we were chatting as the train pulled in, I was about to bid her goodbye and go find myself a seat in a different car and she said that she would do the same. Not only did we both end up on the same car, but, she invited me to sit on the next seat beside her. We started talking a lil bit about our lives, she told me about her family and enquired about my background as well. She also shared that she would get off the train at the same station as I do, she lives in walking distance to my house- can you beat that!
It surely feels awkward for me to interact with her at work, commute back on the train with her after work and also know that she lives in the same neighborhood. While, she is so far nice, very pleasant etc. it still feels strange for me to have this sort of interaction with her. I guess maintaining a healthy distance with one's boss is always good. This will be one awkward situation that I need to handle tactfully.
15 comments:
Hi Mitr. It is not such a bad thing.... Don't think too much into it. Your boss is also a person, and she will appreciate you for being able to recognisie that she is not the role that she plays,.. but also an individual with family and all the usual likes/dislikes too :) .
..i do feel lil bit awkward..
Thanks for stopping by my blog. It helped me discover yours!
I would feel awkward too about the interaction with the boss if I were in your place.:)
I feel the same :) after all u ve a smooth relationship, let 's continue and maintain the distance
I don't think it's such an awkward situation! Just be friends outside the office. Of course, you have your own opinion and I value it dear!
I agree with Spillay - it need not be awkward at all. Just be casual about it and don't think (stress) too much about it!
PS: Can you enable commenting without blogspot (or gmail) ids?
I would feel weird about it too Mitr!
I am back here after a loong time, I had thought you stopped blogging only to realize it was after-all a break! (Duh-uhh!) Have a lot of catching up to do now :)
Spillay-agree that she too is a person, but it still puts me in an awkward situation.
me- smiley..
tbc- thanks...
cham-hmm..thanks for the laurels of praise on ur blog abt. mine.
uma-It will be nice to be pals if she weren't my boss and if she isn't old enough to be my mother.
A-kay- thanks...will try to enable commenting without blogspot and let u know..any particular reason for you to ask?
Priya- welcome back..yes, after stints of irregularity, I am back to regular blogging, hope this continues for sometime.
actually it is good thing. don't remind yourself you are working for her, atleast do not show it. it is good to be close to your boss, without having any sort of expectations from either side...take it easy:-)
na_an- thanks, that helps.
I need to login to the gmail id that I rarely use just to comment on your blog - just plain lazy :)
Anyway, have tagged you!
on the other hand, handled carefully it would work well for both of you...so you are on the right track, no need to distance just because she has become your supervisor :)
Everyone had useful advise for you so I though I'd offer some useless advise - play the hiding game like in the tamil movies, hide behind the pillars, watch which carriage she enters, then run through the doors of another carriage at the very last moment hehe
I must say, I would have done this at one stage in my life - now, I'd probably be too slow and get squashed in the doors and bring more attention to myself hehe
A-kay- aaha...tagged-a! Sorry for that inconvenience of logging in, I need to do that, as well to comment on some other blogs.
ul- hmmm..that is cool thinking.
bavani-Loled at your advice....your was the closest to reality, that is what I did yesterday, trying to hide myself from bumping into her at the station and then finding a different chair to sit in etc.
That is a bit too close for comfort and after you run out of the usual general topics to talk about, i'm sure the talk will proceed to work and I bet you wouldn't want that on your commute as well! Bavani's advice is good and cute.. :)
Also, thanks for dropping by my blog..
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