As I sit at my desk, staring at the pile of work in front of me, I can’t help but think about the old man who runs this office. He’s been here for as long as I can remember and is the literal embodiment of the Chinese idiom, “鸡蛋里跳骨头” (picking up bones in eggs). This phrase perfectly describes his presence in this office, making everyone work even tougher.
The old man, let’s call him Mr. Zhang, is in his late 60s and has been working in this company for over 40 years. He’s been the head of our department for as long as I can remember. At first, I thought he must have a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide us, but as time went by, I realized that he doesn’t know Jack shit.
Despite his lack of knowledge, Mr. Zhang loves to take credit for everything. He always pretends to know everything and is quick to implement new processes and procedures. However, these changes often end up causing more confusion and redundant work for us. It’s like he’s trying to reinvent the wheel, but instead, he’s just making it more complicated.
The worst part is that he’s not open to any suggestions or feedback. Whenever someone tries to offer a different perspective or a more efficient way of doing things, he dismisses it and insists on his own methods. This has created a toxic work environment where we are constantly walking on eggshells around him, afraid to speak up.
Despite his flaws, one thing I have to give Mr. Zhang credit for is his work ethic. He’s always the first one to arrive in the morning and the last one to leave at night. He’s also the one who works the hardest, often taking on tasks that should be delegated to his subordinates. But even with his hard work, the office morale is at an all-time low because of his leadership style.
I can only hope that one day, Mr. Zhang will retire and someone with fresh ideas and an open mind will take over. Until then, we will have to continue to work even tougher, with the constant weight of Mr. Zhang’s presence weighing us down.