I'm not ill tempered I just refuse to be talked down to. That's why I can't work in the corporate world. I have my own accounting and cost forecasting service. Recently I was working on a project for a fast food franchisee that owns and operates several hundred McDonald's. I told him I would have the project done on Friday. On, Thursday I got in a wreck, had to go get a rental car and on top of that, my dog got sick so she had to go to the vet. My day was shot. I called Regional Director of the franchise who I would submit the report to, explained what happened and asked him if I could submit it on Monday. He just erupted. He, in a very snide manner, told me I've had a month to complete the project (which is true, but it takes a month, at least, to complete) and that I should have accounted for any potentials delays. He concluded, "So, are you going to live up to your commitment or make a liar out of yourself?"
I told him, "I'll work throughout the night to finish this for you, but let's get one thing clear. You may be able to talk that way to your fry cook, but this is the first and last time you speak that way to me. Do you understand me?"
He muttered something and said, "Just have it to me tomorrow."
I persisted, "I asked a question. Do. You. Understand. Me?"
And he said that he did and I hung up. He got his report on Friday.
I simply refuse to be talked down to. How can I approach things like that more diplomatically but communicating that idea you're effing with the wrong person?
I told him, "I'll work throughout the night to finish this for you, but let's get one thing clear. You may be able to talk that way to your fry cook, but this is the first and last time you speak that way to me. Do you understand me?"
He muttered something and said, "Just have it to me tomorrow."
I persisted, "I asked a question. Do. You. Understand. Me?"
And he said that he did and I hung up. He got his report on Friday.
I simply refuse to be talked down to. How can I approach things like that more diplomatically but communicating that idea you're effing with the wrong person?