I Told You That In Confidence
(As part of our training for our job, we have to attend a workshop on communication and confidence. The trainer has asked us all to go round and say what we want to get out of the workshop, but for some reason, we are not allowed to repeat what anyone else has said. I am near the end of the group of people and am therefore struggling to think of what different thing I might want to take from the workshop. I also happen to have a very common name.)
Trainer: “And you?”
(I say the first thing that comes to mind.)
Me: “Uh. Okay. I would like to, uh, I guess, be able to address my colleagues with confidence and not come across as doubting what I’m thinking when, uh, presenting my ideas.”
Trainer: *smiling* “Ah, I see. A bit of lack of self-esteem.”
Me: “Uh, yeah.”
Trainer: “You’re not someone who thinks that your job application was accepted by mistake, or that it’s a case of mistaken identity?”
Me: “Well, it is possible, I guess, but I guess I wasn’t thinking—“
Trainer: “Really? How likely is it that they mixed up something as important as a job offer with someone with the same name as you?”
Me: “Er. Well, actually, in my year at high school, there were three of us with the same first name and second name. They tried to enter me for the wrong exam papers several times, gave me someone else’s report at least once, entered me as dyslexic for one of my papers, and then nearly didn’t give me my exam certificate because they assumed my name on the student list was a typo. Among other things. So, uh, if we’re going by my past experience, I’d say it’s not impossible that someone with my name applied and the paperwork was mixed up. But I never really considered it until you said it, and now I’m wondering about it.”
Trainer: *a little flustered, having clearly not realised how common my name is* “Right. Okay. I can see why you might think that. Erm, I’m sure that didn’t happen, though. Moving on…”
(Everyone joked later that I was the only person to come out of the training with LESS confidence than when I started.)
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
