Blamed for technical issue outside my control

[crazystar]

Exactly this
work meeting where a senior couldn’t join - due to her own browser issues
another boss said to me she’d had issues with this software before -
i double checked they’d be able to join and they confirmed all ok to

and on day she couldn’t

I just took responsibility saying it won’t happen again- im not a techy, not my job - but find I do this a lot in jobs, where things have gone wrong outside my control - I own it. Am I wrong for doing so ?

I mean if you're happy to accept blame for things that aren't your fault, then I guess you can't really be wrong 🤷‍♀️

Not sure why you'd be happy to do it though, that part doesn't make sense?

Yes. Why on earth would you take responsibility for this when it isn’t your job to ensure this colleague can join a meeting?

Teams is playing up at the moment.. good to have google meet on standby..

I was responsible for setting up meeting
And briefing for it

I mean I set it up ! Never had the issue before

But you've also said you're not a techy, it's not your job and you double checked she'd be able to join?

Yes, but you didn't write the software, and you didn't know they'd had problems with the software before. Why on earth would you take responsibility for there being an issue?

It was horrible
senior stay implied I need to not let it happen again. In that scenario I just felt I had to say sorry

I would apologise too - I would also let the person who didn’t join know that you have heard it wasn’t the first time and ask if they need you to speak to tech support on their behalf? Call them out if you suspect they could have done something about it?!

You need to get in touch with tech support, describe the issue, get the correct explanation and advice in writing and forward that all parties. State clearly that you immediately took responsibility to get the correct advice.

I've reread your op a good few times and I still don't understand why it's your fault?

Someone couldn't join a meeting because of their IT issues and it was your responsibility? Not getting it.

You checked with the manger they would be able to join, they said yes, but on the actual day they couldn't join.

Nope still don't get it. What am I missing? Why is it your fault?

Surely the senior who couldn't join the meeting needs to phone tech support?

Not understanding this thread at all. I have at least 3 or 4 teams meetings a day and if someone can join, so be it, everybody has tech probs occasionally but it's up to them to sort it!

I think I get your thought process in this @crazystar but you should be careful as there is potential for you to be seen as being less competent for something outside your control.

There is some good advice on the thread about getting tech support (assuming your organisation has it).

I would go one step further and suggest that you organise future meetings as face to face on the basis that 'some attendees had trouble operating the technology'. That often focuses people's minds on making a little more effort.

You need to be careful not to accept too much blame. You’ll get an unfair reputation for being incompetent.

In this particular example, is that platform the standard one for your organisation, or did you go off piste? If standard, it’s nothing to do with you, and individuals need to take responsibility for making sure their own equipment is able to connect. If you chose a non standard platform, then yes potentially some blame rests with you.

If it’s Teams there is an option to invite people in or they provide a phone number also. Were none of these alternatives available?

Maybe the managers had other reasons and this is another problem where you are taking the blame. Unsure why you would do this, OP. I’d be annoyed if someone took the blame for my tech issues. Not their problem 100% mine to fix.

Are you generally a pushover?

How can it be the meeting organisers fault if an attendee has technical problems?

I'm sure everyone who has teams meetings has come across this more than once, sometimes things don't work but it's nothing to do with the person who happ need to send out the invites

Not generally but I’ve encountered toxic bosses - I’m triggered

It was MS live - broadcast event
she needed to enter in presenter mode and failed to - I think firewalls
another person said I should have tested

That’s the bit I’m taking some responsibility for, but however I never knew she’d not be able to and accepted lnvite fine

It was a huge conference call over 100 she’s external guest not staff

You are responsible for browser issues? 😵‍💫

💧

How the heck did the word “triggered” manage to get shoe horned in?

Some senior staff coast along passing the buck under the guise of delegation.

The moment has passed but I think it would have reasonable for you to say that you need his advice on how to prevent the same thing occurring again because you had done your best with the training you have had.

Or agree wholeheartedly with feigned worry and say “of course.. Um how do I do that”

You can change how you operate, triggered or not. You are in charge of your own behaviour and words.

At work it's best to develop a professional persona. Practise assertiveness techniques. Distance yourself emotionally. Accept that some people will behave badly and it's 100% their issue. Learn the stock phrases to disarm the negativity and blame.

It might be as simple as realising you operate as a people pleaser and need to stop.

Try self help books like "nice girls don't get the corner office".

So an external guest to a conference call of 100 attendees was not able to join.

was this guest also a speaker?