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As someone that spent a large part of their formative career years in NL, where straight-shooting is the only acceptable way, I had to re-learn diplomacy and lessen my bluntness when I rotated out of there. (Which funnily when I was in NYC a lot, I had to re-establish back to a blunt baseline again, haha.)

Looking at how your vice principal approached you, maybe that is something to emulate a bit; i.e. formulate complaints as questions? Maybe instead of writing a note, approaching things less formally with the parent? Call them after class and ask questions? Just an idea.

Other than that, it's always shitty when you get called out. We all get called out all the time though. No one is perfect, not even the perfectionists. The thing that matters is what you do with it.

I remember you were similarly reassuring when I posted about my misadventure last year. Haha. I sure hope this doesn’t turn out to be a yearly event!

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It's amazing if it is only annual though! I've sat in some snake pits where this was every other day.

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oh my god. now you made me shred all signs of self-pity. I had a wry smile on my face haha.

seriously? that toxic? was the work worth being in such stressful environments?

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In general, being mercenary hired interim help pays well. But, most often I grew into the snakepit, and it's a tough negotiation position to desire higher rates for emotional pressure, so no, it doesn't pay enough. Financially, it is better to get hired into a C-level position than to move into it by merit. Most of the highly dysfunctional places I worked at (they're generally dysfunctional if they need a dickhead like me) are snakepits from the middle management up, if not toxic entirely bottom-up.

The worst one that ever happened to me is that someone that worked for me went behind my back to the board, complained about what I was doing with a huge customer the chairman themselves once landed, then I got called into a meeting the next day, in person, 11h flight out, leading to me canceling an important customer meeting (w/ a bigger customer.) I jumped on the next plane out, slept on the plane, took a 3h taxi drive, arrived just in time, came in, got cross-interrogated for 30 minutes. And they had no comments to what I explained and I was thanked. And that was it; could've been an email. I gave them notice that I was not open to contract renewal the week after - there are limits.

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fancy calling yourself a dickhesd. but I share a self-deprecating sense of humour.

great job flipping the finger at them and maintaining your dignity. And you walked away with a great f-you story to tell forever

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