The other day, I was at the pet food store picking up some (more) treats for my dogs. For some reason, we run out quickly. Anyway, I am particular about the treats I get them. You see, they are my babies and I am going to make sure they are spoiled and live the best, longest lives possible.
I wanted to buy the large bag of treats, but I could only find the small bags. The only large bags I could find by the same company was the dog food – not the treats.
I asked someone working at the store if they had any more big bags, maybe in the back. They pointed to the larger bags of dog food and said “Oh, I think the dog food is the same as the treats, they are just in different bags or the pieces are just different sizes or something.”
Really? I thought. I just compared the ingredient lists of both bags and they were completely different. I thanked her and let it go – or did I?
I know it’s not a huge deal, but it’s something I’ve been noticing more and more lately. Instead of saying, “I don’t know or let me check.” I hear, “I think so, maybe, or something that sounds made up.”
I don’t expect people to know everything, but if you are working at a place, where your job is to provide customer service – then yes, there is an expectation that you will provide some kind of definitive answer. Even if the answer is simply, “I don’t know.” A bonus is if they try and find out the answer.
Am I asking too much?
Of course, I had to think about this to try and understand why. I could feel myself judging others and it was not my intention.
Here is what I came up with so far:
- People do not like to be wrong or admit they do not know something.
- They are lazy and are not motivated or do not care to know the answer.
- They are introverts or get nervous easily and want the conversation to be over as quickly as possible.
Personally, I am usually okay admitting I don’t know the answer. Sure, sometimes it makes me uncomfortable or I start to judge myself because I don’t know the answer – but I also want to be honest.
Okay, I am sure there have been times that I may have blurted out an answer that wasn’t accurate – because at the time I didn’t want to admit I didn’t know. I can definitely remember doing this more when I was younger.
I realize it happens and there are many reasons why. Many that I don’t know.
Is it just me? Have you also noticed this trend with people? Do you have any other thoughts as to why it happens? I know I have not captured them all.
Then I thought – maybe I am just reading way too much into it . . . Nah, doesn’t sound like me 😉 .
“A secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be, and then making the best of it.” Unknown Author