For those who really know me, I don’t do chit-chats, and especially not over the phone! I would rather meet up over dinner and drinks to do the chit-chats. Chit-chats over the phone,unless necessary, is usually rather pointless.

So recently, a former subordinate gave me a holler out of the blue. In my usual fashion, I would ask “what’s up”.In essence, “what’s up” is my nicer way of putting “WTF do you want from me, just tell me and be done with it as I’m not really a big fan of inane chit chatting about nothing” over the phone. Doesn’t anyone notice that holding the mobile phone to your ears can be rather tiring too?

To me, people usually call for a reason; especially those who ain’t close to you. I mean, whoever just call to “chat”? That’s my logic anyway, given the fact that the problem lies with me.  The fact remains that I just don’t do chit-chats over the phone. Not even with my husband, unless dire. (but I’ve gotten better at this…)

So anyway, her reply to my “what’s up” was, “oh I just wanna yak with you”, to which I promptly smacked my head and rolled my eyeballs. Being a hyper-speed talker, she went on and on for about 10 mins, almost non-stop updating me about her work life since she left the team after I got transferred to another team. To my credit, I actually did listen politely the whole time and asking questions along the way. What do you know – I was actually actively listening! Her rattling went for 10 minutes more before she finally get to the core of what she wanted to say. There and then, a bell went off  in my head that warned “Hah! I knew it! There must be something she needs from me”.

To my surprise  (and a pleasant one at that too), she spilled the beans saying that she called because she wanted to personally thank me. Thank me for all the things she picked up while working under me. She admitted in earnest that working with me was a tough road and a lot of hard work, but it also made her realise that she has indeed learnt a lot from me – more than what she has accomplished in her initial 2 years with the team before I joined in. That alone had given her such an edge and valuable experience in her next tenure which she remarked (in her words, by the way), she caught herself doing a me on occasions and even pondering on questions of “what would The Sleeping Dragon” would have done if she is in my situation.

I swear, I was grinning from ear to ear when I heard that. That’s the biggest compliment ever and I’m glad I made a difference to an appreciative subordinate.

It is definitely nice to know that I’m not such a bad boss and mentor after all! After a somewhat lousy meeting, the phonecall had made my day.

I guess chit-chats can sometimes be ok…*blush*