The Art of Non-Disclosure

There's a individual in my office that routinely strains my ability to remain professional so as not to reach across my desk and bitch-slap them whenever we talk. Now, please don't get me wrong, this is a nice person, smart and capable when involved on a project. There are vast reams of knowledge floating around in their head which is always available for sharing when asked directly. The reason I envision myself stabbing my pen through this persons hand several times a month? Never never ever committing anything in written form, which these days mostly consists of email.

Send an email requesting an explanation on a particular project? This person will stroll into my office and explain it in an extended manner until I have more information than I need and the point of the question has been buried in extraneous detail so twisted it's hard to isolate the real response from the noise. Send an email asking this individual to inform someone else about a point of interest in the work environment and soon this person will saunter into the inquirer's office to explain. Then meander into my office to tell me they went and parlayed the info I requested. Ask the individual to provide a written explanation and the ensuing verbal dance begins on why the facts are hard to explain and there are so many qualifiers that the recipient may not get the point they really need..and on and on.

I like to visualize myself utilizing the Lewis Black finger method and growling, "Now listen you little prick, pick up that pen and start writing shit down. Right now."

It's always prudent to be cautious in written form these days as emails get sent winging around the world to who only knows with a click of a mouse button. It is just important to be as open and professional as possible when asked to disclose information that will benefit the organization. That the requested information coming from the individual that is integral to the day to day process helps reduce errors and misinformation being disseminated to third parties. I really don't want to assume how something works if a discussion often requires that inside knowledge. Nor is anyone looking to cast blame if there is a breakdown in the works. Knowing what the breakdown may be and how to avoid it the next time is the end goal.

The C.Y.A. method of business puts everyone at a disadvantage and eventually causes distrust that hinders team accomplishments. And don't I sound all corporate and uptight now?

So in the meantime, I'll continue to envision my internal brand of punishment for such annoying behavior and smile politely when I send out the third request for a written response with a mouse click. And eat more chocolate because it makes me feel better and curbs my homicidal tendencies.