Complimenting Others

I have posted on this point before, but would like/need to do so again.

I have just finished a major project. It was the first time I had worked in this area and a more experienced, senior colleague gave me a huge amount of support and assistance.

With new areas/projects, I find that it is important for me to have this initial support from an Asperger perspective. I am not sure if it is entirely due to my AS, but I discovered in the not-too-distant past that I am a "visual-learner" or that I learn best/most effectively by actually doing things.

With something new, once I have done it once I find it much easier to relate to: having that example provides a basis of understanding and something that I can further build on. The problem is that, until I have acquired this, I don't learn very effectively of completely. The net result of this is that it can be very anxiety provoking.

There is also another potential downside. Readers of my book Managing with Asperger Syndrome will know that I had a very difficult and damaging relationship in a previous career/job with "Bill".

Though it was not how the inter-personal problem with him started initially, it was exacerbated when we worked together on a project - one that I had not done previously - and where he did a significant part of the work. Needless to say he later held this against me!

In the concluding meeting held to close the project mentioned at the start of this entry, I thanked the person who had given me the support. As mentioned, he was a senior manager, but a new member of staff had also assisted and made a significant controbution that also helped me.

I forgot to mention this in the meeting, something which I regreted when I thought about it shortly afterwards. I saw the junior employee in the corridor later and mentioned it but, of course, it didn't have the same impact as it would have done had I done so in front of everyone else in the meeting.

I am constantly reminding myself: acknowledge other people and their efforts.