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Help me with my professionalism...

I started a new job about a month ago, the same time as our regional manager. He sent out an e-mail today about a meeting on March 7. I e-mailed him back right away and said "I should be able to make it." I mean, its a month out and really, the timing is going to make it difficult, but I'll make every effort to be there.

Two minutes later I get this reply: "I need a definite answer regarding your ability to be there."

To which I replied: "I'm sorry [name], barring any unforseen circumstances, I'll be there."

 

This whole exchange just seemed odd to me. Our workplace is over all pretty relaxed, so I guess I feel like I was corrected or something... Gah! Am I reading too much into this?

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Re: Help me with my professionalism...

  • Am I reading too much into this?

    Probably. But really, why all the modifiers? Either you can make it or you can't. If you don't have anything else that day, just say yes, you'll make it. If something comes up between now and then, negotiate it then.

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  • In the business world you need to either commit or not commit. You don't need to explain that some unforeseen circumstance might crop up.  That's a part of life; it goes without saying.
  • Saying "I should be able to make it" is annoying.  Either commit or don't.
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  • He may be putting things into place or trying to arrange other things with or around this meeting.  If you aren't committing, it's not unsurprising he's asking for clarification. 

    I get it that your place is "informal", but you've just been there a month, right? Maybe you really don't know if the place is as casual as you think it is. Or as this regional manager wants it to be. 

    You were asked a straightforward question.  No need to give anything other than a straightforward answer. 

    Imagine you're throwing a party. You invite people and their response is, "I should be able to make it."  Do you get aggravated?  Do you feel like you need more clarity? Do you want them to just say that they're coming, or say that they're not?  Those are all understandable reactions. 

     

  • imageSunAndRain:
    In the business world you need to either commit or not commit. You don't need to explain that some unforeseen circumstance might crop up.  That's a part of life; it goes without saying.
    This. He's giving you a month notice so that you have time to work out any "timing issues". You don't have to explain that you'll be there unless your house burns down, or you're sick, or your Aunt dies, or there's a hurricane, etc etc. Look at your calendar - is the date currently open, yes or no?
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  • imagehuber22:

    Am I reading too much into this?

    Yes. The meeting is a month out. It's not some coworker's baby shower, it's a meeting hosted by your boss. Unless you have a conflicting meeting scheduled, you say Yes.

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  • Professional is to commit to the meeting and actually attend. Nothing is worse when you need a key person at the meeting who agreed to attend but doesn't show. If you can't make it and know this before the meeting, you need to let the organizer know the minute there is a conflict.
  • I think both you and your regional manager are being weird about this.

    "I should be able to make it" is a strange answer. Just tell him yes or no.

    His response was  unnecessary. He should have just taken your email as an affirmative.

    And you are overreacting to his response. Sorry, but if I got your "barring any unforseen circumstances, I'll be there" from a cw, I would think it was obnoxious.

    Oh, well. Live and learn. In the grand scheme of work faux pas, this is not a big deal.

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