Gosh, it's frustrating to correct someone at work

[zombiekiller]

So, at work my boss has been asking me to check old reports by other people. Sort of do an internal audit before the real auditors come.

I came across this one consistent mistake by this one guy. He keeps approaching the math the wrong way. And since this is the real world where every mistake costs money unlike homework problems, one of his reports over-paid the contractor by about $6,000.

I used to just do the corrections myself and resubmit my own version to correct the mistakes. This time around, I decided to tell him. Since this guy has been doing this for 12 years and I got under 2 years in management experience, I thought I'd be super friendly and try to get him to understand why his method is just wrong. It's not a difference of opinion. It's just wrong.

No matter how much I tried to show him step by step why his method is wrong, he kept insisting that he's been doing this for 12 years and that I'm wrong. Eventually, I had to bring it up with my boss and had my boss explain it to him. To my surprise, he started arguing with my boss (also his boss). Eventually, my boss and I asked him where he got his method from. He said he got it straight from the department of transportation specifications. We asked him to show us. He took it out and showed us. Turned out he completely misunderstood the DOT spec. At this point, my boss had to spend about 30 minutes explaining to him why his interpretation of what the spec says was wrong.

I know on here I appear to be a know-it-all. But in reality, I'm far from it. Every time someone catches a mistake I make, I always thank them and make sure I never make that mistake again. I don't understand why some people just won't listen to others?

In my experience, the number of years of experience means little if you're not open minded to new info.

 

[peeonme]

I once stood in front of a machine trying to solve a problem, nothing worked and tbh, I was good. The Janitor/ truck driver walked up to me and seeing my frustration asked what was up.
I explained my dilemma, he cocked his head and said "would this work?" and his solution did work. As usual I had "overthought" the problem and over looked the obvious. I thanked him and made a note in my cranium to LISTEN to others.

Some folks never got the memo.

 

[zombiekiller]

I once stood in front of a machine trying to solve a problem, nothing worked and tbh, I was good. The Janitor/ truck driver walked up to me and seeing my frustration asked what was up.
I explained my dilemma, he cocked his head and said "would this work?" and his solution did work. As usual I had "overthought" the problem and over looked the obvious. I thanked him and made a note in my cranium to LISTEN to others.

Some folks never got the memo.

My boss and I had a convo about this guy after he left. See, he's been in construction management for 12 years and a lot longer in the construction industry. But he doesn't think like an engineer. What do I mean by that? He does most things right because he's been told to do so. He doesn't really understand the reasoning behind these methods.

Going back to the original problem, a check to see if his method actually makes sense for the real world or not would have reveal that what he's been doing has been dead wrong. Again, not a difference of opinion. He was just wrong. But instead, he just started doing things certain ways and never questioned why they work.

It's particularly frustrating when we're surrounded by engineers (aka geeks) and we expect to not have to explain the basics to a colleague.

 

[T-Rexx]

I don't understand why some people just won't listen to others?

In my experience, the number of years of experience means little if you're not open minded to new info.

In my experience, delusional people prefer their delusions to reality.

 

[rareboy]

He sounds like an idiot.

Fire him.

 

[star-warrior]

I like how he insists on having done it for 12 years. 12 years of mistakes. If the boss hints that the difference will come out of his wages, maybe he'll change his tune.

 

[zombiekiller]

I like how he insists on having done it for 12 years. 12 years of mistakes. If the boss hints that the difference will come out of his wages, maybe he'll change his tune.

This wasn't the first time I've run into someone who boasted of having done this x number of years. In every case, I've always had a problem trying to explain to them that they are wrong. They always bring out the "I've done this for x years..." There's something about the profession that makes some people not willing to admit they are wrong.

I must say, though, that my boss had a much better way of explaining to him why he was wrong. Next time, I will definitely use my boss's explanation.

 

[star-warrior]

This wasn't the first time I've run into someone who boasted of having done this x number of years. In every case, I've always had a problem trying to explain to them that they are wrong. They always bring out the "I've done this for x years..." There's something about the profession that makes some people not willing to admit they are wrong.

I must say, though, that my boss had a much better way of explaining to him why he was wrong. Next time, I will definitely use my boss's explanation.

Since it has been going on so long and has only just come to light, perhaps you need to institute a system of group oversight where data is checked again by someone other than the person who submits it.

 

[zombiekiller]

Since it has been going on so long and has only just come to light, perhaps you need to institute a system of group oversight where data is checked again by someone other than the person who submits it.

Actually, we do that already. The problem is some of these guys go right back to doing it the wrong way after they've been corrected. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have pointed this guy's error out to him.

 

[LeicsDom]

I used to just do the corrections myself and resubmit my own version to correct the mistakes. This time around, I decided to tell him. Since this guy has been doing this for 12 years and I got under 2 years in management experience, I thought I'd be super friendly and try to get him to understand why his method is just wrong. It's not a difference of opinion. It's just wrong.

More fool your predecessor who failed to correct him the first time he made the error

 

[peeonme]

Frankly, some people are just plain dumb. I heard the "I have been doing this for x amount of years" more times than I can remember.
Math is a hard science, 2 plus 2 will be 4. As screwy as this world is I always found some comfort in math... it is consistent.

I did find that human nature will trump any reason or logic, people who are resentful, insecure or pissed will not listen to reason.
I was a toolmaker/machinist for 35 years, I learned early on that by having a check list to prevent mistakes that I could avoid problems.
Such things as comparing the material provided against what a print calls for, the number of items the print calls for against the number of pieces provided. Does the print call for "shown and opposite" parts? Is the material the proper size?

Guys would get their tit in a wringer by just starting to machine on whatever stock was provided, waste hours and look like idiots.
When I would share the idea of a check list I would hear "that's not my job" or the infamous "I have been doing this..."
You can't fix stupid.

 

[Kahaih]

So, at work my boss has been asking me to check old reports by other people. Sort of do an internal audit before the real auditors come.

I came across this one consistent mistake by this one guy. He keeps approaching the math the wrong way. And since this is the real world where every mistake costs money unlike homework problems, one of his reports over-paid the contractor by about $6,000.

I used to just do the corrections myself and resubmit my own version to correct the mistakes. This time around, I decided to tell him. Since this guy has been doing this for 12 years and I got under 2 years in management experience, I thought I'd be super friendly and try to get him to understand why his method is just wrong. It's not a difference of opinion. It's just wrong.

No matter how much I tried to show him step by step why his method is wrong, he kept insisting that he's been doing this for 12 years and that I'm wrong. Eventually, I had to bring it up with my boss and had my boss explain it to him. To my surprise, he started arguing with my boss (also his boss). Eventually, my boss and I asked him where he got his method from. He said he got it straight from the department of transportation specifications. We asked him to show us. He took it out and showed us. Turned out he completely misunderstood the DOT spec. At this point, my boss had to spend about 30 minutes explaining to him why his interpretation of what the spec says was wrong.

I know on here I appear to be a know-it-all. But in reality, I'm far from it. Every time someone catches a mistake I make, I always thank them and make sure I never make that mistake again. I don't understand why some people just won't listen to others?

In my experience, the number of years of experience means little if you're not open minded to new info.

. . . and no one is suspicious of this guy taking 'kickbacks', or dishonest contractors who pocket the overage – for twelve years?

 

[zombiekiller]

. . . and no one is suspicious of this guy taking 'kickbacks', or dishonest contractors who pocket the overage – for twelve years?

You know how serious such an accusation is? I don't want to be "that guy" on the 6 oclock news LOL.