A random person tried to tell me how to do my job

I was running cables at a client's building yesterday. A man stopped and said my way was wrong. He had no training in this work. It held me up for a bit. How do you handle folks who give unwanted advice?

4 comments

4 Comments

corah751mo ago

You mentioned he had no training in this work. (That's so annoying, right?) What did you actually say back to him in the moment? I'm curious if he was just being a busybody or thought he was helping. How do you usually deal with that without causing a scene at a client's place? Like, do you have a polite way to shut it down fast?

chen.olivia1mo ago

Sometimes people just talk without thinking, but is it really a big deal? wren_perry's method of a quick thanks seems smart because it avoids drama. I've seen guys like that who mean well but don't get how their comments come off. In the moment, I might smile and say 'I've got it covered' to keep things light. It's rarely worth getting upset over unless they're actually messing with your work!

wren_perry1mo ago

Last summer, I argued back, but now I just say 'thanks for the tip' and keep working.

matthewwilson16d ago

Got a guy at the hardware store last month who insisted I was using the wrong type of conduit. He was buying light bulbs. A quick nod and getting back to work usually does the trick. It keeps the peace and you don't waste your breath. Some folks just need to hear themselves talk.