Dilbert Lives

A friend is a manager in a large office that is filled with cubicles. Because he is a manager, his cubicle has higher walls, and is next to the cubicle of another manager. There is no soundproofing, and he often hears very interesting conversations over the wall between their offices.

Recently, an employee came into the office of the manager next door. He had some serious health concerns he wanted to discuss. Tests that involved going to a hospital were scheduled and could involve immediate surgery on a major body organ. The employee went on to pour out some of his concerns about the test and his hopes that everything would work out well.

During the several minutes the conversation took place, the manager just listened and did not say a thing, until there was a pause. His one comment was, “We need to talk about this later. Right now, I need to make a phone call.” There was dead silence for a few seconds as the employee evidently left the manager’s office. Then the manager picked up the phone and made a short phone call.

My friend said he wondered how the employee felt about his manager’s response, and what kind of medical problem might have evoked a more empathetic response from the manager next door. Perhaps if the employee had said, “The doctor says I have three days to live,” there would have been more spoken empathy. The reaction certainly would have been different, if the employee had said, “My heart may explode at any moment. Just wanted you to know, in case I get blood on the carpet.”