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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to ask how not to appear incompetent in tomorrows meeting

18 replies

floppyfanjo · 27/01/2014 20:11

Six weeks ago i started my dream job in a large public sector organisation.

My role involves coordinating services for clients,liaising with other teams and agencies - sorry to be vague.

As I only work 2 days a week and I spent most of today catching up where others have left off,tieing up loose ends and waiting for phone calls,consequently I've had to prioritise existing clients and outstanding jobs over starting work on new client cases.

Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with senior managers to discuss action plans for all our clients.

I have a collegue (who does a lower grade role than myself) who will delight in the fact that I won't be able to give any updates for the newest service users as I've not yet even had the chance to look at their files yet,let alone start on any action plans.

Can I please have any suggestions on how to respond when this one particular college turns to me in the middle of the meeting and says "so,whats your plan for mrs.....?" she knows perfectly well that despite working my arse off today I haven't even looked at her case and will delight in me having to confess infront of senior staff that I know nothing (at the moment) about the four newest clients.

I'm perfectly confident In saying that I havent had chance to get started on the newbies yet,but know she'll be sat there tutting under her breath and rolling her eyes and would quite like suggestions for a polite but firm response.

OP posts:

gordyslovesheep · 27/01/2014 20:16

I think you smile and start with 'well as we discussed yesterday I haven't have chance to catch up with those clients yet, as you know I have completed my work on x,y,z as you can see from my reports' your senior bosses will see through her

MetellaEstMater · 27/01/2014 20:17

Preempt any such comments with a summary of your progress and outstanding actions.

MetellaEstMater · 27/01/2014 20:19

Sorry posted too soon...

And let her tut and eye roll away. She will be the one looking daft in front of the senior staff. They will most likely be aware of the individual's behaviour in this regard anyway.

matildamatilda · 27/01/2014 20:19

Get in extra early and review each file for five minutes (set a timer!), making bullet point plans for each file.

Putting aside the issue of the annoying co-worker, you knew you had this meeting and it's reasonable for management to expect that you'll have looked at each case, however briefly. If you didn't have time because of emergencies, you should have let them know.

More generally, build some time into each week to review cases so you're not caught unawares. If there are time management issues and they're just giving you too much work, bring it up with your boss.

Regarding the obnoxious co-worker--maybe try delegating to her? Make her give you progress reports on the cases you haven't yet had a chance to really dig into.

catgirl1976 · 27/01/2014 20:20

Turn it round. Tell her you would like to hear her plans.

Then nod thoughtfully, add a few bits of your own and ask her did she consider x and what effect does she think y will have

If she's a total nob, chuck in a patronising "well done", complete with head tilt

Thetallesttower · 27/01/2014 20:22

How long would it take you to get a brief overview of their cases? I wouldn't want to look unprepared in front of senior management (if my own boss fine, if very senior no thanks)- I would go in early and quickly spend 15 min looking through the cases so that I appeared familiar with their names and basic circumstances even if I hadn't had a chance to action them.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 27/01/2014 20:24

Preempt her.

Call/email senior managers before the meeting and explain.

Or, in your update, explain that you have prioritised x,y and z and are planning work on the new cases that day.

Or run your cow bag colleague over in the car park.

Original poster

floppyfanjo · 27/01/2014 20:47

Thank you - Heads spinning today and can't think straight as I'm still trying to get to grips and learn the new role whilst being very busy. Although (most) people are very helpful I'm the only member of staff doing this particular bit of the job on a Monday and Tuesday.

I'll have just under an hour before the meeting at 9am (can't get there any earlier than 8am due to dropping DS at childminders) so will spend my time getting a brief overview on each new case -at least I'll have something to contribute.

Unexpecteditem Daft as it sounds I hadn't actually thought about saying that I'd prioritised x,y and Z.....

OP posts:

matildamatilda · 27/01/2014 20:52

Good plan!

I hope it goes well.

maybefaraway · 27/01/2014 20:52

Agree with cowgirl. She asks you, and you reply patronisingly something along the lines of, "as you know we need to take into account the needs and input of the client, so my current plan is for us to all meet to discuss the steps we can agree to take her case forward. If you'd like to put forward your own ideas I'm sure that would be really helpful." Tilt head questioningly, and refer to bosses if no reply comes.

matildamatilda · 27/01/2014 20:55

She asks you, and you reply patronisingly something along the lines of, "as you know we need to take into account the needs and input of the client, so my current plan is for us to all meet to discuss the steps we can agree to take her case forward. If you'd like to put forward your own ideas I'm sure that would be really helpful." Tilt head questioningly, and refer to bosses if no reply comes.

Meh. That's kind of a b-s response. Senior management will see through it. Better to just take a quick look at each case.

matildamatilda · 27/01/2014 20:59

I'm sorry, that was harsh of me. It's just that I had to supervise someone once who would come into meetings like this unprepared. Instead of just confessing that she hadn't been able to review the cases, she would sort of try to bluff her way through and it was such a waste of everyone's time. Gnargh.

poopadoop · 27/01/2014 21:02

Agreed, quick outline/bullet points is best. Don't answer the sarky comments if there are any - at least don't engage w her directly

Chippednailvarnish · 27/01/2014 21:07

Go through your bullet points, then sigh loudly and say "not bad eh, considering this is only my 13th day". Then give her the Catgirl head tilt, whilst smiling.

FoxyHarlow123 · 27/01/2014 22:22

If you want to retain any professional credibility, at this early stage in your new role, do not try to be sarcastic or patronising or dismissive of anyone in the room. Just remain reasonably emotionless, professional and address the question in a matter of fact way. A quick review of key headlines would be good, if you can do that quickly in the morning. You could say something factual like, I've had a brief review of xyz and i think abc but I'd like a little longer to review them in more depth before I comment further.

wobblyweebles · 27/01/2014 22:39

I would have spent this evening reviewing the cases. Sometimes especially early on in a job you have to go the extra mile.

But after a few weeks of that I'd talk to the manager about workload if it's still too much.

LoveBeingCantThinkOfAName · 27/01/2014 23:36

Do not be sarky, you will cone off worse. If you won't have time to look then you prioritised x, y andz. The cases will by reviewed by x date with a full plan of action.0

DoJo · 28/01/2014 00:31

Just tell the truth - you have prioritised outstanding case work in order to clear the decks for new casework. You could add that the meeting has come at just the right time as you are about to begin work on them and would welcome input from anyone who has anything that they would like taken into account when dealing with the new files.

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