Thursday, July 30, 2009

You Keep Forgetting I'm New

A slight problem at work, I think my superiors keep forgetting that I’m new. Not just new to this city, but new to the planning profession in general. Several times lately, we’ve been in meetings about important projects, and someone looks at me and says, “Have you done the such-and-such yet?”

Blink. Blink-blink-blink-blink.

Oh, was I supposed to do that, then?

I didn’t know that. Because I’m new…to everything .


Another work issue:
I’ve had to listen to tapes of myself speaking at meetings, and I’ve noticed a disturbing speech pattern of mine in these situations.

It goes like this:
Normal speed, normal speed, normal speed, really…slow…at…end…of…sen…tence.

Example:
“Item n, the Commission agreed to recommend adopting language similar to that used in [other city] concerning the screening of compressors, and we should meet with [gas company] to get more information on this top…ic. And then you’re approving the language suggested by staff concerning noise levels. All we have from [the gas company] is what we gave…to…you. Concerning the screening of compressors, I have a suggestion there, borrowed from [other city], and this would be added to the proposed section a…bove.”

It doesn’t happen with every sentence, but it does happen often enough to be noticeable. Bother.

Also, I almost fell out of chair yesterday. This was at home, so only JLR saw me.


*

3 comments:

Melissa said...

E-mail me when you get a chance--I have additional details about someone's upcoming party. mprycer at sbcglobal dot net.
Melissa

Lia said...

That still happens to me, and I've been here more than 5 years, so the "I'm new" excuse doesn't really work. *Sigh*

RR said...

Oh, Lia, poor thing! I hope that doesn't happen to me, too. Oh, dear.