‘Bubbly’ ‘smiley’ work colleagues

[Joker0fGotham]

Thoughts?

The smiley bubbly ones can come across as insincere and I find they often are the ones who talk about how hardworking they are but actually get the least done.

I’m one of those bubbly smiley people. It’s just my personality. One person I worked with was heard to comment to another ‘i don’t understand what she’s got to be so happy about with her life’. I’d rather be me than a miserable cow like that!

I am a very positive person at work and don’t like people who bring the mood down. However the lady I sit across from constantly stares at me! She was doing it the other day and I asked her why in a joking way and her response was ‘I’m just so bubbly, I love observing people!’
I just think she’s a bit much. I hear the words bubbly and smiley come from her mouth on a daily basis.

Thanks for all of your responses btw! I’ve never had so many before!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

I do think describing yourself as "bubbly" is a little bit strange.

However, please don't underestimate the effort that those who "choose their attitude" are making. I remember getting quite down at work because others kept moaning, refusing to do things and being negative about pretty much everything. They assumed that because I chose to look cheerful, I wouldn't take it badly.

‘I’m just so bubbly, I love observing people!’

I'm not sure she understands what bubbly means.

I've noticed an ongoing trend with young women in the workplace, where they sort of pimp themselves by acting like a very stupid giggly girl. Managers love it. It works. They become the favourites. Managers think they are lovely...really they are snakes. It's all an act. They virtually lay themselves open to managers and fawn their ego. "Oh I like your blouse"..giggle giggle isn't it lovely. They know how to play the game, watching where the manager sits and grabbing a desk next to them.

‘I’m just so bubbly, I love observing people!’

Fair play OP, she sounds as thick as mince.

Ooh, that's me (although I am getting more grumpy and cynical in my old age!). I'm a Yellow on the "Insights" program and generally get lots of feedback about how I am friendly, approachable, good team player, etc. I do try not to be totally OTT with it, and can be serious when necessary... but it's just my personality when at work - I find I enjoy my role more when I project a positive and upbeat attitude.

I hate 'bubbly, smiley' people. Fake, loud, attention seeking, usually thick as shit. The kind of person who wears an Xmas jumper and thinks it hilarious. The kind of person who makes you dance at a work party. Usually the kind of person who says they don't vote because they aren't interested in that kind of thing. They Probably like Micheal fucking Bubble too. Probably gets a dozen red roses sent to work in Valentines Day by their boyfriend along with a cuddly toy and a big card which they simper over in high pitched tones despite the fact he's obviously shagging someone else. Probably has an MLM on the side which they believe will make them a millionaire because 'I'm so bubbly'. GTF. Not my kind of person at all.

I love a cynic, I love a rude person, a dry sense of humour. I adore a misery guts. In reality we are all funny as fuck but we don't laugh at the 'bubbly' person's simpleton inanities and we are happy to tell them to GTF when they ask us to buy some aloe shite.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m laughing AT this poster, not WITH them, just so we’re clear.

I see that Valentine’s Day is a theme. I assume that this poster has taken violently against a colleague who exhibits all of these traits and wants to carry out a character assassination on the thinnest of pretexts, having been particularly irritated today. What MLM is it? Forever Living?

Did you know, it is possible to be cheerful AND clever? You can be cheerful and know how to spell the words ‘Michael’ and ‘Buble’ too, who’d have thought it??

I worked with someone who was “bubbly” and “smiley” and a complete psychopath on the biggest power trip.
Generally I appreciate working with cheery people but genuine is best.

Big difference between "smiley" and "bubbly" in my book.

Smiley means happy, relaxed, open, friendly. "Bubbly" is synonymous with fake, unreal.

It's a bit more nuanced than you're making it and there are a lot of gradations. A genuinely happy person is obviously more fun to be around than someone who takes pleasure in dragging everyone into their misery.

But brittle, fake, customer service happiness can be exhausting if you're not in the mood for it. I know some people have to do it in client-facing roles but it can make you feel you can't trust people.

And some cynicism can be extremely funny.

I think in part it depends on how comfortable you are able to be with yourself in your role: if you are relaxed and happy in the environment you are in it shows and people respond positively. If you're miserable people respond negatively. It's good to try not to allow your misery to infect people but there's a limit to how much you can paper over the cracks.

PP are aware there is a middle ground of "normal levels of being cordial and friendly" in between Alfred Steptoe and Kimmy Schmidt, right?

This.

I am horrifically overworked, but on an always muster a smile! I'm annoyingly chirpy, but because my life is perfect, it's far from it, but because it could be so much worse!

*I can always muster

Yes, those smiley, bubbly people trying to get through a working day as good as they can... I can't stand their positive attitude!

They could all be shagging each other... If you smile they might let you join in.. Give it a go your face wont get stuck!

I'm a mix of bubbly and blue with the occasional rbf thrown in lol.
Nature of my work can be emotionally draining at times, so I appreciate the occasional laugh at work. Management encourage it for this reason, but workloads are often crazy so there's a time and a place. Plus, I'm easily distracted so can't be doing with constant bubbly drivel when trying to concentrate on work.
Left my last job partly due to a few miserable, insecure, jealous, passive agressive, narcissistic types who were beginning to drain the bubbly out of me. Just secured a new job. Hoping my new colleagues are a nice bunch or they'll be getting my rbf from the off lol.

Are you genuinely asking if I want to spend my day with type a or b?

Type A=
Positive
Smiley
Helpful
Notices if I’m down
Offers ideas and solutions

Type B=
BMW (bitches, moaners and whingers)
Joy hoover
Sighs
Woe is me
Won’t listen to any solutions as they get in the way of more whinging

Not really hard is it?
I went to a great training thing once on how to get less stressed by life and work and the advice was clear. Spend as little time as you can with type B. I now do that and don’t feel guilty about it. My MIL is type B and can’t see that she is the one that misses out. We’d see more of her if she was just a bit less “woe is me” about everything!!!!!

The paradox of pessimists is that the only thing they are optimistic about is other people’s interest in their woe.

Can't stand them.

Come work with me, my colleagues have worked out the more happy and bubbly I am, the more under pressure and stressed I am, but if things are tough let's make it fun

IMHO there's a difference between people who are cheerful, and the sort of person who treats everything as a joke. I can't stand the latter. Unless you literally work as a comedian, take your damn job and mine seriously.

I'm not quite sure what you are asking OP. Was starey person saying you were smiley/bubbly or she was? Are you asking whether it's preferable to work with someone upbeat or downbeat?

Sorry not read everything. Woman opposite you sounds odd, a bit like those people who say ‘I’m a people person’ but are actually ones you’d avoid. Generally, I like cheerful, positive (or at least even tempered!) people at work and dislike working alongside people’s bad moods, especially when these are regular.

I’m afraid I’m one of those cheerful people. It is my genuine nature to be that way in the company of other people. I am naturally shy and I suppose an introvert but I am happy and smiley with others. If I am feeling down which I have been lately I still smile and laugh with work colleagues. I don’t consider it to be an act. I just don’t want to bring my woes into work with me. I know how low it makes me feel when I’m working and all I can hear around me is bitching and moaning. I just can’t stand it.

I know that I must annoy some people with my smiling and cheerfulness. But that is my default setting. I just go very quiet if I sense that others around me don’t like my personality. Which is probably a good thing for them! I do think I have self awareness and can adapt to the situation I am in.

I have also been told by many people over the years that my smiles and cheery nature gives them a lift and it’s nice to have someone like me around.
I am well aware though that people might either like/love me or hate me.

I like the post by @Winteriscomingnow .
I have never heard of a ‘joy hoover’ before, what a great term! This accurately describes at least 5 of the people I have to work with every week! I feel like they are draining my soul over the course of a shift! However they probably find me just the same!

I suppose it’s a kind of yin and yang in the workplace. We wouldn’t necessarily choose the people we work with as friends, we just have to tolerate each other’s differences.

I agree with redcarbluecar about the ‘I’m a people person’ thing. I have often heard that said by some of the most obnoxious and self absorbed people I have ever met!