What are you doing there?

I was once fixing a problem on a computer and the boss came to me and said “What are you doing there?”

I was surprised. He knew that it was my job to fix the computers. I told him that I was fixing the computer. He repeated his question again. A coworker said he is fixing the computer. The boss said that he wanted me to leave now.

Now this boss was someone who I had helped often for years. He knew who I was. I was working at a subdivision of a larger company, and so I didn’t see him everyday. I had like 10 bosses and he was one of them.

So I finished what needed to be done and I left. I should have left immediately but I like to finish what I start. A week later I was back helping the same workers and he didn’t say a word. He acted as though he had never said anything. No one explained why he said that and no information was shared with me about that experience.

You can be doing your job, and people will yell at you. This said nothing about my professionalism, and everything about his.