Friday I attended a one-hour webinar on a software product that will get us well on our way to a paperless office.
(We all know there is no such thing as a truly paperless office, but let them have their little fantasy for now.)
So I take the time and trouble to go to the website ahead of time to download and install the latest net-meeting software. I arrive early to the meeting to be sure I can log in without problem. I set up the projector in the conference room so my coworkers can attend the webinar with me. I call in ahead of time to be sure I have no audio problems.
As I sit there listening to the audio chatter from other participants who have neglected to mute their phone lines, one woman chimes up just as the speaker gets things rolling:
“My boss is running a few minutes late. Can you wait to start the meeting until he gets here?”
(!!!)
The nerve!
I wish the presenter had responded with:
“Sorry, no. I will not penalize the other participants, who were all able to show up on time, just because Mr. FancyPants could not get his shit together.”
Instead, she responded with something polite yet equally refusing. In the meantime, Mr. FancyPants showed up.
I am usually a proponent of asking for what you want because the worst they can do is say no, but I also know when it is not appropriate.
When saying yes results in a large group of people having to sit around and wait for you: not appropriate.
It must be nice to be the center of the universe.
