mistrust

It's interesting how miscommunications, jealousy and ego can so easily breed mistrust in people ... especially between colleagues

I changed my job about 6 months ago from an international accounting firm (been there more than half a decade) to a fairly large local bank ... and am still trying to adapt to the culture. Recently, I was assigned to a major initiative of the bank and have been attending meetings with counterparts to kick start the project and all. And I met a guy from the other department, who, after some exchange of pleasantries ... started questioning my motives or rather, my department's motives to get involved in the project.

His exact words? "Is it because our department is so incapable of carrying out the project ourselves? Is it because without you guys, we are never gonna improve? I mean .. you don't know much about our operations and all ... and you guys wanna give us advices??"

I swear ... if it wasn't because I was being professional and all ... I might have asked him to f*** off. Here I am trying to help them with a mega project (which directly impacts his bloody bonus and not mine), his bosses welcomed my assistance ... and there, a bastard questioning my motives. How are we ever gonna work together if he has such mistrusts about his own colleague??

And my boss ... who is gonna go overseas for some analysts' roadshows next week ... can't even tell where he's going to avoid jealousy among other departments' heads .. and hence, possible mistrust about his true intention to promote the bank to analysts and potential investors (as opposed to going on hols at company's expenses) .... how are people ever gonna work together effectively when there are so much suspicions around??

Humour me ...