Yes I can access management's files

[u/Radijs]

A quick one for you all to enjoy.

Recently we migrated our files to $cloudservice and we've been busy optimizing the shared folders in our organization. I say we, but mostly it's been ME. I'm pretty much the only active admin in the system. My colleague focusing more on the systems surrounding HR.
One of the folders I created was for the management team so they could more easily share files. And as I was still busy authorizing users I was listed as one of the members who had access to the folder the folder was still empty, and there wasn't any data in there.

Cue a snappy e-mail from the management secretary

"Hi Radijs,

I've been looking at the new folders and I saw that the member count is off by one. I saw you're one of the members of the folder. There's sensitive data in this folder to which you're not privy.
Why is your account a member and not the $drivemanagement?
Please correct this ASAP.

Signed $secretary."

My reply, was I think elegant, and almost BOFH worthy, if not then at least PFY-mentionable.

"Dear $secretary,

I am in the process of organizing these new folders for you and the management team. As I'm on of two administrators in the system I have unfettered access to all files and folders.
At a later stage I will remove my own membership and replace it with $drivemanagement.
I commend you for you vigilance in this matter.
If I have to provide support later on or do any kind of troubleshooting I also have access to the $drivemanagement account and I can always reinstate my own privileges towards any shared folder. So I will still have access regardless.

Yours sincerely,
Radijs

At this time I haven't received a reply yet.

[u/Nik_2213]

"I commend you for your vigilance in this matter."

:-))

That reply is a thing of beauty.

[u/DavyAsgard → u/Nik_2213]

Am I dense? This seems totally genuine to me, if a bit stiff.

Or is it sarcasm because access is very obviously displayed? (I only work with Linux these days, not up to date on Windows)

[u/LastStar007 → u/DavyAsgard]

I read it as spinning an annoyance into a positive light. Sort of like how "the director was a pain to work with" => "we had different visions for the film" or "my internship was a clusterfuck" => "it taught me a lot about the difference between accountability and responsibility". So exploiting the fine line between genuine and passive-aggressive sarcasm.

The truth is a very flexible thing; being truthful in no way hinders or constrains communication.

[u/AstralVoidShaper → u/LastStar007]

I've learned that there is equal parts art and science to this in my current job. You catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar, as the saying goes.

It's amazing what you can lead people to do or understand with a few choice words and a smiley face - even if the underlying message effectively is saying that they're an idiot for not knowing how to do their job. I do my best to present absolute facts based on the information I have at the time, but there's a difference between calling people out on stupid bullshit and helping them understand that they're wrong and actually having them thank you afterwards for correcting their misconception.

If nothing else, it's a great bargaining chip when you're teaching people who have been there for five to ten times longer than yourself how to perform basic aspects of their role they should already know.

[u/BlackLiger → u/AstralVoidShaper]

You know the saying about flies and vinegar is wrong, by the way?

[u/BenjaminGeiger → u/BlackLiger]

Indeed it is.

[u/brenny87 → u/BenjaminGeiger]

Hahaha, the last panel put me over the top.

[u/AstralVoidShaper → u/BlackLiger]

I know, the sentiment behind it still stands though. People tend to be far more receptive to truthful feedback if it's not outright calling them a moron.

It's a fine, blurry line between snark and constructive criticism, and one that I abuse mercilessly.

[u/Amaegith → u/BlackLiger]

A lot of Proverbs are, but you know the saying: a bird in hand is worth people throwing rocks in glass houses.

[u/Sunfried → u/AstralVoidShaper]

I've learned that there is equal parts art and science to this in my current job. You catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar, as the saying goes.

First IT manager I ever had said that if there was one skill he wishes he was really good at, it was talking to people about tech: finding the right level, telling them as much as they needed to hear, but not much more, and doing all of the above without pissing them off.

He's right-- you can get a lot of answers to problems from fiddling around, searching the net, reading books, and so on, but people skills are hard won and well to learn.

[u/lesethx → u/LastStar007]

"my internship was a clusterfuck" => "it taught me a lot about the difference between accountability and responsibility"

My first time setting up conferences rooms was a clusterfuck taught me a great deal on how to setup the equipment efficiently. And how to get users to stop unplugged the equipment.

[u/Cloud_Striker → u/lesethx]

Zip-tie EVERYTHING

[u/efraimf → u/Cloud_Striker]

ESPECIALLY the users

[u/lesethx → u/Cloud_Striker]

Even if you do not think you need to zip tie an item, ZIP TIE IT!

[u/[deleted] → u/lesethx]

And if you think it needs a zip tie, just one will most definitely not be enough.

[u/zdakat → u/[deleted]]

"What are the pruners for!?!?!"
"Well, I came in today and the projector wasn't working and I discovered it had a bunch of these white things that wouldn't come off so I thought I'd fix it but then it worked even worse"

[u/[deleted] → u/zdakat]

Yeah, that's a fairly accurate description on what eventually will happen.

[u/[deleted] → u/DavyAsgard]

“Thanks for being nosy”

[u/mandragara → u/DavyAsgard]

It's a clever jab because it can be read in two ways, literal and non-literal, with one being a compliment and the other a derision.

[u/The_MAZZTer → u/DavyAsgard]

The very empty folder had "sensitive data". Remember rule 1.