TWIL: How I Have Failed at Work for a Decade

This "transparency" thing is taking over at work and people are being really frank.

A long-time co-worker shared with me that when she started she had been warned to never ask me questions.

I confess, I would often hear new workers asking other people questions when I was right there. Me. Me, the expert. Or Me, their mentor. "Why aren't they coming to me? I know the answer. I love one-on-one training. I love teaching. Am I intimidating or something?"

I was surprised to hear from my co-worker that the word went out among new employees that if anyone asked me a quiet question in an email about, say, "How do I make a pivot-table in Excel," I would march to that person's desk and say loudly, "DON'T WORRY I WILL BE GLAD TO SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE A PIVOT-TABLE IN EXCEL," and everyone would know of their ignorance.

While I am delighted this co-worker told me this "funny" story,  I am also dismayed to learn I have had this reputation for years. Really dismayed.

Also, I cannot WAIT until the next time this particular co-worker asks me anything. "OH YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT TEMPLATE IS LET ME GET EVERYONE ON  A TEAMS CALL AND WE CAN ALL HELP YOU."

Comments

[KC]

Ohhhhh that is awful.

But also it is okay to be open that you do not yet know how to make a pivot table. But also I know people (including me) wince at unnecessary people knowing their points of ignorance. Sigh.

[theQueen]

KC - it has been so long since I was a new employee that I don't remember knowing less than other people. And now there's no one in earshot, anyway.