I have been talking to loads of people at the moment. Some chats have been serious about jobs and what to do next, some have been cheerful banter in coffee shops. All of these have been lovely, interesting, sometimes challenging but never frustrating to the point that makes me want to wring the individuals neck…… well with a few exceptions….
Occasionally you bump into someone who takes great pleasure in being the ‘devils advocate‘. Now, I am not adverse to a challenging conversation, nor am I worried if someone is clearly decided in their views. But what drives me bonkers is someone who will not let it go. They poke and poke and poke. Offering nothing to the conversation or the dialogue of their own. I had one such conversation the other day. It was horrible, unpleasant and actually really boring. I learn’t nothing about another’s view on a topic familiar to me. I left the conversation annoyed and in need of a big drink!
It would seem to me that it is important to be challenged on your views. However, I think that there is a warning for those that constantly take the position of devil’s advocate, that they themselves will never actually contribute their opinion or view to another.
lthough very clearly, we were the newbies as we descended on the free food and drink the minute we arrived, and on the whole were the last people standing. There were also some new MBA’s from this year’s class.
