This afternoon I had a meeting scheduled with my "relationship partner," who is assigned to guide and direct me during my internship this summer. He sent me the invitation for the meeting a week ago, scheduled for 5:00 to 5:30 (right up until the time I am supposed to leave the office). Well, when I arrived at his office (three minutes early, of course) I could hear through the closed door that he was on a conference call, but knocked lightly to let him know I was there. Expecting him to tell me to wait for a couple of minutes while he wrapped up the call, I instead offered to do so before he had to ask. Sure enough, he accepted, but told me to wait not for 3 minutes, but for 20 minutes! Really? That means I'd have to stay at the office later than planned, which wouldn't be such a big deal, except that it was unapproved, and thus unpaid, overtime. Not to mention, I had institute to get to after work!
Once he shut the door I debated internally for about 30 seconds, walked over to see if my senior buddy was at her desk to debate with her, and then decided to reschedule the appointment. I approached his executive assistant, Sue, and asked her if it was a possibility. Three clicks later she'd sent out the reschedule invitation to myself and Rich (my partner). Perfect!
Not quite. On my way back to my desk I continued to debate... and I don't have a very long walk from his desk to mine, mind you. Short as it may be, however, it does involve passing Brent's desk. So I stopped to talk to Brent, asking for his advice in the place of my assigned mentor. I explain the situation and when I was done he looked at me with a look I won't soon forget and said, "The interns can wait. The partners time is a lot more valuable than yours. You can wait. They are busy." Really, he just confirmed what I already feared was true. I hung my head and with my tail between my legs I walked back to Sue's desk and told her I'd wait. She smiled and assured me Rich would be out shortly.
Well, the meeting went well. Sure enough he finished his call twenty mintes from the time he said he would, and I left the office twenty minutes late. I missed institute, but instead had a quite enjoyable conversation about funerals with Kristin over dinner (well, I had dinner, she had ice cream). It was a lesson well learned, and one I surely will remember. What a blow to the ego to realize I am at the very bottom of the totem pole around the office. It doesn't get much lower than my position. I guess good news is it can only get better from here!
Great advice from Brent. All organizations have a hierarchy, a pecking order if you will. I remember finding out, whilst I was a 3rd year med student, that I was mere pond scum in the hospital's hierarchal order. Can you believe it, 3 years post-grad, and right on the bottom of the totem pole. It was both humbling and revealing. Revealing in the sense that I quickly realized that I had a long way to go before my opinion would carry any weight. All's well. Reality checks are great learning experiences and bring us back to earth (where the oxygen is much richer). Love you, The Papa
ReplyDeletePS: you will never be pond scum in my book.
PSS: I feel like Shannon -- using your blog page for my blog message. Ah well, tune in next time for more from the DaddyO (I mean, from Lauren). Heh, heh, heh.
I always feel so embarassed by those "humbling moments" but it sounds like you dealt with it really well. And no doubt all those people at the top of the totem pole had their humbling moments too.
ReplyDeleteOh Father Dear...this behavior of copying me is perfectly normal for you. I have come to accept the fact that I am a natural born trend setter and that people can't help but follow what I do. It is truly a compliment that you would take my advice and use someone else's blog as your own.
ReplyDeleteAnd Laur Face...the only true pond scum in the world is David when we are playing the card game "Scum." Dave used to be King the whole game, but has found his new calling in life as pond scum and can't quite seem to move up the ladder. So luckily you are better off than him in that you will only be moving forward in your amazing life endeavors. Keep up the good work Laurie and knock 'em dead with your mad skills!
Lauren-Mom here--do I need to call this man and tell him of all your amazing qualities???? Really, I will.. really....I won't..what a lesson to learn...ouch! Sometimes life is just one long roller coaster ride.
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