Does people really like innovative new colleagues?

[Sandalison]

So this woman (let’s call her Lucy) is new-ish in the office (since 18 months ish). She is friendly and confident. She is always talking in meetings and stepping forward with suggestions, ideas, new information, etc. She is the ‘new and fresh’ person, who has been given a special project, made a big success of it, delivers lots of training and also seems to send lots of emails. She likes to make jokes about her “unruly” hair (gorgeous and curly) and “unhealthy dependence on lists” (which I interpret as showing off about how ultra-busy and ultra-organised she is.)

The bosses love her, and so it seems does everyone else. Eveyone except me! She reeeeally gets under my skin.
Now, Lucy isn’t even in my team, so it’s not like I’m in direct competition with her, but nevertheless I have come to terms with the fact that I am just being a jealous cow here.

To emphasise: I KNOW I am a jealous cow!!

What I am wondering is, am I alone in my bovinity (and suck as a human) or do other people feel the same way about the Lucys in their offices ( I still suck but feel a bit less like stabbing her with a pencil).

YABU - you’re on your own hun.
YANBU- yeah Lucy annoys all of us.

I had a Lucy, in a parallel team, doing a similar job to me although a grade above. I had been the only person doing this role in the entire (large) organisation before she got her role - they decided to create someone to do it per department.

Think hard about why Lucy was really brought in to your organisation at a level more senior than yours, to do what you had been doing alone up until then.

She used to always emphasise her seniority if we disagreed on something.

Well, so you say. I’m feeling sorry for her already.

Everyone loved her.

And thus she had to be ruthlessly punished, by you.

It really annoyed me as her role was more research and reporting to management whereas I was much more 'out there' doing the actual work and engagement and building relationships.

Was Lucy looking at actual outcomes and applying some professionalism to this engagement work, by any chance?

It felt she was getting more credit than I was.

She probably was, and probably deserved it.

She made me feel really small.

By being better at her job? Grow up. Is everyone meant to aim for lowest common denominator to preserve the feelings of insecure people?

It didn't help that she was skinnier and taller than me too and better groomed.

Off with Lucy’s head!

Yet even when I lost 5 stone, I didn't feel any better next to her.

Why would you? What has weight to do with professional competence?

She was overpaid for what she actually did.

In your unbiased opinion.

I've left that employer now but I still hate Lucy!

Christ this is a depressing read. Poor old Lucy, with her attractive appearance and professional ability, has attracted your hatred into perpetuity.

I'm sorry @poorbuthappy, it genuinely makes me sad that this has happened and that you have no real prospect at your current place. I know we're in the middle of a major crisis now, but what I would say is that it's the people with this can do, efficient, innovative ethic that tend to be more sought after following crisis, don't forget that and try to keep this door ajar. xx

This is interesting

So moving aside from the name (agree with the karen risk)
It brings up a lot to think about

We have a very new LT who are majorly full of ideas

I don’t want to be the miserable old ‘it can’t change here ‘
So I’m trying to adopt an open mind
It’s not the gender or fluffy hair for me
It’s the development of new ways that actually
Add time
Decease efficiency
But most importantly don’t deliver ROI
Versus efficiencies that work and increase revenue

When you see the latter all the time it’s easy to get cynical to new ways

God yes, I really dislike these Pollyanna types, why can they not be content with coming in and doing the required work, then clocking off like everyone else.
We have a "Lucy" on our team and she's very similar. Comes in way early, works late and takes over everything with her ideas. Young and with no kids, so she can put in all these hours and do more work. It's now created a culture where this is expected and you're seen to be slacking if you don't do as much as her, even though we were already working really hard.
We all hate her but are nice to her face because what can you do.

God yes, I really dislike these Pollyanna types, why can they not be content with coming in and doing the required work, then clocking off like everyone else.

I thought that you were being ironic until I read the rest of your post. The tide of bile flows on!

I'm a Lucy, sorry! I know I annoy my colleagues but hate things like "its always been done this way so why change" etc

@PinkTonic I've worked with equally irritating male "Lucys".

I think there's someone who comes in with ideas...involves, inspires, energizes...real superstars - they don't hog the limelight - they don't need to - they change things by bringing everyone with them - that's part of their success, they inspire loyalty.

And then you get the almost aggressively - wants to change everything because everyone is a bit shit and they are amazing - their head barely fits in the room, on their CVs they cost cut (often have MBAs), they rarely grow the business, they talk about teams but they don't do teams - they don't collaborate they annihilate - they stay for a couple of years, apparently saving millions and move on leaving morale low, staff turnover high and a bigger problem to fix - making people feel positive about their work again.

She sounds like she's a 'fixer'. So once she's sorted out a dept she'll be bored & move on. Or,she'll be fast tracked to an under performing dept or a shiny new project. There's always a Lucy somewhere in your work life IME. They don't tend to stay forever.

@MrsVeryTired

I'm a Lucy, sorry! I know I annoy my colleagues but hate things like "its always been done this way so why change" etc

I am not a Lucy - but the "it's always been done this way so why change" are the most difficult annoying frustrating people to work with - I'm glad to say - we don't have any working with us atm and never if I can help it!

@Iamthewombat Not really bile, just an observation. Other posters are correct in saying these types are out for their own glory and not team players. They create extra work when resources are already stretched to breaking point.

All this sneering about people doing better than you at work ‘leaping around’ until they are inevitably (according to you) ‘thrown on the scrap heap’.

Who says they are 'doing better than me'? That's something you've invented. Many of the people I'm talking about are junior to me, but that's really beside the point.

It might seem a strange concept to you, but some of us just want to do our jobs to the best of our ability, without being messed around and disrupted by people who don't have a clue about the business making changes for the sake of it - or rather, making changes for the sake of bringing themselves glory, only to move on before everything falls apart - changes we know full well, from experience, have been made and reversed umpteen times before.

Posters are making a range of different assumptions about the behaviours and performance of this ‘type’ of colleague (Lucy or Luke!)

I had a former colleague who spent his entire time sucking up to senior management, using his senior status to initiate pointless (IMO) new things for others to do in addition to their (IMO) more useful current roles, doing v little actual work.

Another did things differently from most and cracked longstanding problems, secured investment for good (IMO) new things for the organisation and personally did a lot of things to set them up well.

Both would be ‘Lukes’ depending on different posters’ perceptions!

I feel uncomfortable with the gender assumptions here a bit

It’s new people within an old environment

It’s always going to ruffle

Who says they are 'doing better than me'? That's something you've invented. Many of the people I'm talking about are junior to me, but that's really beside the point.

The fact they're junior to you is irrelevant. They may be doing a better job than you. A big problem arises when senior people have exactly this attitude.

It might seem a strange concept to you, but some of us just want to do our jobs to the best of our ability, without being messed around and disrupted by people who don't have a clue about the business making changes for the sake of it - or rather, making changes for the sake of bringing themselves glory, only to move on before everything falls apart - changes we know full well, from experience, have been made and reversed umpteen times before.

It might seem strange to you that there is no limit on ideas and improvement and even reheated ideas can prove far more successful at a different time and with different people than before. It might also be an odd concept to you that there's a lot of people who strive to be better instead of their usual daily metro-boulot-dodo, and their creativity deserves at least consideration and often, utilisation and implementation.

They may be doing a better job than you.

That depends how you define 'a better job'. Clearly, other Luke/Lucy types will think they are doing 'a better job'.

The defensive responses on this thread suggest it might have touched a nerve with Lukes and Lucies - an unpleasant realisation, perhaps, that others don't perceive them as favourably as they'd imagined.

I've had many enthusiastic colleagues and there was probably a time when I was one of those too. I work in a team and people who are good at their job benefit the whole team, so are generally liked, regardless of whether they are enthusiastic or not, or full of fresh ideas or not. However, what I find very annoying is when people make everything about themselves, exactly like the examples in the opening posts: comments about own hair or love of lists. Maybe this is the feature that actually annoys you, that this person is so full of themselves?

I'm a Lucy, but do you know what? I'm climbing the greasy pole in a male-dominated industry. I work bloody hard to balance everything and I'm more than willing to help those who try or ask for help.

I create opportunities for myself, I'm not afraid to speak up and question 'the way things are' if I can see a better way and I take any scrap of opportunity I have.

I don't care if you like me (general colleagues) as I know I'm shit hot at my job and a man doing the same would be lauded as a saviour. I also earn far more than most of my colleagues now by doing this. It's earned!

You can take the cards your dealt or fight for better ones.

The only defensive responses and touched nerves on this thread are from those who feel threatened by Lukes and Lucys, and the same thing happens in real life.

It might seem a strange concept to you, but some of us just want to do our jobs to the best of our ability, without being messed around and disrupted by people who don't have a clue about the business making changes for the sake of it

People like you would still be operating a spinning Jenny if they could. Whilst telling colleagues that steam power will never come to anything.

I have older friends who remember trying to implement computer systems in the 1980s: they say it was a daily struggle with some people moaning that computers would never catch on and it was a waste of time and what was wrong with a filing cabinet and typewriters etc etc.

You certainly seem to have formed resentment about people more junior than you who have good ideas and more energy than you. I can imagine what it’s like working for you. Poor sods.

Of course, what this all boils down to is the awful, chippy “so you think you’re better than me, do ya?” attitude.

“so you think you’re better than me, do ya?”

Doesn't this apply both ways? Maybe on both sides people are just annoyed with colleagues who think their way is the only way, regardless whether that is a new or an old way.

The OP’s beef with Lucy is not that Lucy thinks that her way is the only way, though. The subject is Lucy’s enthusiasm, energy and tendency to make suggestions and have ideas.

Whilst the OP recognises why she feels as she does, and doesn’t come across as spiteful, other posters on this thread are decidedly chippy and demonstrate clearly that what they dislike is being compared unfavourably to the Lucys and Lukes. Which manifests itself as passive aggression and even venom, sadly.

Yes, loads of venom from both sides. Colleagues are like family, you don't choose them so chances are, you will end up with some you just can't stand for whatever reason. I am yet to find a team where everyone likes each other!

Depends what her personality is really!

I don't think this in itself would be enough to affect whether I like/ dislike someone.

If they genuinely wanted to help improve things and were nice to me and others in the process then I would like them just fine. If they tried to steamroll other people's ideas or implement change for the sake of change or their own ego/ salary/ other benefit to them then that would annoy me.

This thread is really interesting.

I am a massive "Lucy" - however, I'm neither young, new or have an insane desire to get promoted! I basically want to make things better for the business and try to drive all (sensible!) ideas through at all levels needed (from the required politics with top management to doing any low level graft needed). I've been here 10 years and am still trying, as much as I can - have achieved a significant amount, but there is always more that can be done. This does (luckily!) fit into my role, which is primarily strategy based, but I also go above & very much beyond to get things achieved. I completely value other's ideas, but I'm usually the instigator - it is just who I am. I try to rein it in. but it can be difficult, I must admit, although I like to think I pull along others with my enthusiasm (this thread now making me think possibly otherwise!)

It is interesting that a fair amount of you seem to think that this type of behaviour is motivated by power or position. Interestingly, I actively discourage any "promotion" talk as I think that I achieve more by not being constrained by being on the senior management team. I'm also paid a decent whack, so its not cash. It is (in my case at least) just motivated by trying to make things better, as inane as that sounds. Which may be ego based I guess On a basic level, coming in and doing a non changing job every day would drive me insane - so possibly it is just horses for courses..