Things that make you go ARRRRRRGH!!

Whenever I have to work closely with someone new, someone I haven't really worked with before, there is always that awkward 'burning-in' period.  You know, the one where you try to figure out the most optimal way to get your own way play nicely together?  I am in that situation right now, and what makes it even more difficult is that this new person and I don't seem to be quite aligned in our work styles.  Specifically I am a control freak very organized and don't like to waste time and he is a control freak seems to dislike committing to a specific course of action until my head starts spinning around he is sure.

Now I realize that it takes a little time to get used to working with someone new, and that this situation is only exacerbated by the fact that on my last project the team just DID what I SAID was wonderful to work with.  So I am trying to be patient.  Still, work is all about getting things done and it is difficult for me to just let time slide by...

I do know, however, that there will always be all kinds of idiots personalities to deal with in any work or other situation so I am trying to be open-minded.  Specifically, I am trying to be open-minded about the fact that it's all about me I tend to be inwardly focused about these things.  Interestingly, even my attempts at open-mindedness end up being more about how to optimize this situation for ME.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Let's face it, these days we're expected to take care of our own careers.  And fortunately for business, lots of times the first place to start in taking care of yourself is to be valuable to your company.  Still, I find it interesting (and a bit disconcerting) to take a step back and listen to the voices dialogue in my head* even when I'm trying to be less self-absorbed:

• If I don't put a stop to this now, it'll suck at the end of the project
• Dial back your inner bitch babe, you don't want people to hide when they hear your name
• It's because I'm a girl isn't it?
• Oh, get real, don't turn into one of THOSE
• Why is he behaving like this? What is he trying to accomplish?
• And how can I understand his motivations?
• So he will DO what I WANT?

See what I mean? I'd like think that I am open-minded, but when I try to force myself to be, it becomes clear that I am certainly not...

*The voices in my head are real, the names have been changed to protect the innocent...