driving/driven

[unpakwon]

Could anyone please help me with the following in bold?

I was all business. Unfortunately, I placed a higher value on tasks, productivity, and outcomes than on relationships. I lacked empathy. I had a way of driving the people on my project teams that was hostile and irresponsible. My coworkers may have called me driven but they would never have characterized me as a warm and fuzzy relationship person. At best people warmed up to me over time.

1. What does "driving" mean in the context? "Force people to do something?"
2. What does the relative clause "that was hostile and irresponsible" modify, people, or teams, or a way?
3. What does "driven" mean? "Motivated?"
4. Is "warmed up" saying "people became friendly to me?"

Thank you.​

 

[David L.]

I was all business. Unfortunately, I placed a higher value on tasks, productivity, and outcomes than on relationships. I lacked empathy. I had a way of driving the people on my project teams that was hostile and irresponsible. My coworkers may have called me driven but they would never have characterized me as a warm and fuzzy relationship person. At best people warmed up to me over time.

1. What does "driving" mean in the context? "Force people to do something?"
We sometimes refer to a person as a 'slave driver', with the idea that they are there cracking a whip over people's heads, keeping them working hard without any break or let-up. 'driving' means 'acting like a slave driver', to force (someone) to work to an excessive extent.


2. What does the relative clause "that was hostile and irresponsible" modify, people, or teams, or a way?
to 'way', 'way of driving'

3. What does "driven" mean? "Motivated?"
Far more than that. The person feels compelled/an inner compulsion to act in a certain way, whether it's good for them or not. In this paragraph, the man is compelled to work long hard hours - not because anyone is forcing him, but by this feeling of an inner compulsion to do so.

4. Is "warmed up" saying "people became friendly to me?"
Perhaps not 'friendly', but they begin feeling more favourably disposed towards him, as if people would say of him, "He's not as bad (unlikeable) as I thought - he's not so bad when you get to know him.

 

[unpakwon]

It's been very helpful.

Thank you so much.

 

[RonBee]

A suggestion.

My coworkers may have called me driven, but they would never have characterized me as a warm and friendly person.
​