23rd Dec 2005
Angels on the Job
The traffic is terrible and you’re running late for an important business meeting. At last you arrive, hang up your coat, and open the door to the conference room. You slide into an empty seat and look around. You can’t help noticing that there is tension hovering in the air. No one pays any attention to you. Then one person looks at you meaningfully; the others seem unusually preoccupied with their pad and pencil. The discussion is definitely constrained. No one is really saying what’s on his or her mind. The chair of the meeting now turns to you and asks you to present your new idea. What’s the best strategy?
Wow, professional life in this light sure sounds a lot like high school. I mean, thinking back to what I would’ve done back then, my best strategy would be to procrastinate.
OK, that’s negative….um…..I would….how do you say….bullshit my way through it. No, no, I would first say, “thank you, yes I do have some thoughts..cough, cough!…pardon me, this flu thing is going around, perhaps I should have stayed home, oh well.
CoWorkers: Go home! We don’t need an epidemic in this office, leave Leave!
I think it would work.
Oh, I don’t think too much has changed since high school, do you? I mean other than the fact that we don’t live with our parents.
Gotta make a joke before you start. Of course, if could fall flat in that atmosphere, but it’s your only chance.
I’m not even sure I know any jokes I could tell at work….
Or any at all?
That was amazingly good advice in your last post; gotta put things into global perspective.
The meeting: I work really well when I’m least prepared. In fact, if there is an award for coming up with quick thoughts or ideas, I most certainly would have won it at least once. It is all smoke and mirrors; recall Kramer when he got a job with a company that never hired him:)
p.s.
Have a wonderful Christmas! I have felt fortunate to have met you.
First, a joke for Ellen:
A Mathematician, Physicist and an Engineer all have to nip to the loo. The M has a leak, and then sprinkles a few drops of water on his hands, turns to the attendant and says ‘Mathematicians learn to be concise’.
The P has a turn, spends 5 minutes scrubbing his hands, then turns to the attendant and says ‘Physicists learn to be thorough’.
The engineer has a wee, doesn’t bother washing his hands, turns to the attendant and say ‘Engineers learn not to pee all over their hands’.
I’m not sure why that seemed relevant. Oh, maybe the discussions of peeing.
G-man: Thanks so much for your kind words. I enjoy your blog too.