Free Work
The Request
It was about fifteen minutes to quitting time when the Boss came to us. He said something like;
"I have to do an Executive Summary... can you read this and tell me what you think?"
Yvonne, my senior, took the handwritten page. I was standing next to her, as we read it.
I could see the flaws, the repetitions, and had a number of ideas. I went to speak when Yvonne over spoke me;
"I think you've touched all bases..." she stated in a strong voice with a nod. As she handed the paper back to the Boss with her right hand gave me a secret pinch with her left.
Boss turned to me, gesturing for me to speak. I nodded; "That's what I was going to say..."
He paused a moment then walked away. When he was gone, Yvonne gave me a certain glance. We packed up and left and once we were far enough away; "Did you want to stay late?" she barked.
It was my first job. I'd only been there a month. Yvonne who was almost old enough to be my mother said;
"Never let yourself be tricked into doing unpaid work. What he wanted was to have us write it for him, then he'd go over it. Taking his time. But knowing him, he'd dismiss maybe ninety five percent of our suggestions, and act as if we wasted his time instead of he wasting ours."
I guess I looked puzzled..
"He'd have kept us there an extra thirty minutes, maybe an hour working on his Summary, finding flaw with just about everything. And what would we get out of it beyond wasting our time?"
Repeats
Over the years I've encountered many people like that Boss. People who seem to ask for my help (and because Yvonne isn't there) I have agreed.
I have agreed and found myself working for nothing on something that will be discarded.
It has often puzzled me why one would ask for my assistance, give me some project to do, and after I'd done it, reject it.
That is before I understood Narcissism and the need of some people to dominate.
Yvonne knew exactly what and why and how and responded instantly in the most intelligent manner.
Be Aware
Many people will ask for your opinion, your assistance, even ideas with the intention of rejecting them.
Unless it is so evident that you don't instantly realize your time is about to be wasted your ego will push in and you'll take on the job, devoting time and effort.
You'll write that 'Executive summary' or whatever the task is and at the end be puzzled why you were even asked if your opinion, assistance, ideas, etc. were on the road to discard.
After it happens a number of times you'll learn, as Yvonne tried to teach me, that people often ask not because they value your opinion or ideas or ability, but because they want to confirm their superiority.
Even when their actions prove wrong, where had they listened to you they would have saved themselves from various penalties this doesn't mean that they will ever accept any view that differs from their own.
You can give them the right idea which they discard and suffer loss time and again, but they will never let your ability or ego surpass their own. They must reject your work to prove their superiority.
Consider
When people ask for assistance in some project or idea unless you know them well enough, let them take the lead. Maybe off hand make a suggestion, but don't take on the project.
If you are being paid to do specific work, you do it, you get paid and if they discard it, you lose nothing.
If you are not being paid but think the person really wants your help, you can make a minor contribution and see how they respond.
If they instantly have reasons to dismiss it, appreciate this is just a performance. They don't want your help, they want to prove they can control you.
If they accept your idea and you notice they are deferring, give another piece, see what happens for there are people who ask for your help because they want your help.
When you are employed to a person and this isn't part of your duties be wary
