The Importance of Being Kate

Embarrassing situation at work for your reading pleasure:

So the other day a lady named Meg came in to work. I knew she was someone important, but wasn't sure of her job description. She only shows up every few weeks and stays for a whole day. Turns out she is the training overseer for the area. She comes to observe us all and fine tune our procedures so we are all doing things right according to the book.

I was at a register in the bakery when she came up to me and started a conversation. It went something like this.

"Hi Kate. I'm doing position reports. I've been working on yours with Tim (GM)." She shows me the paper. "We'll look over yours together, and then I show you how I do them. I want you to understand them because I'll be having you do them in the future." (surprised silence from Kate).

Meg responds to my expression, "You are looking for promotion, aren't you?"

I am actually not sure what I said to Meg at this point. Probably something clever like, "Maybe," in a dubious tone of voice.

"We want you to be the training coordinator for the store. You won't necessarily train everybody, but you will be responsible for the paperwork and making sure that people actually get trained."

Kate's mind is racing, "Me? Umm, I haven't had much training myself! Sounds like fun, though. I'll kind of do the job that Lindsay does! I enjoy training people. But how come this random chick is telling me about this and not Tim (GM) or Brenda (shift manager)? Oh well, I'll reserve judgment until I see how the wind blows."

So throughout the day I thought about it and discussed it with my Dad during my break. After work I sat down with Meg to ask questions. We talked over the condition of the store's training, the various needs, and the upcoming training time which she wanted me to observe so that I could do future sessions. Cool. But Tim never said anything to me about it, which was still weird.

Next morning at 8 am I walked into the office. Tim turned to me and said, "So, yesterday Meg thought you were Kate F- (the new manager with MY name)."

Apparently Meg had called him the night before to report about her nice talk with Kate. She went on about it and then mentioned that I had been a bit unsure of extended hours because I was considering returning to Israel. At that point light dawned on Tim's head. He told Meg she had talked to the Wrong Kate.

Shift scene back to one awkward moment in the Wrong Kate's life. She is standing on one foot in the doorway of the office, feeling silly and rather younger than 26.

Sigh. I suppose I should have known. After all, I am a mere part-time cashier who has only worked at the store for 4 months. What was I thinking?

"Well," I replied, "that was a happy mistake! I think I really could be your man for the job. I love working with people, I love to teach new things, and I have had previous experience teaching a variety of age groups! I may be new, but I learn fast, I am detail-oriented and motivated. Please consider me, in the future, if not immediately."

Wow! Sounded pretty professional, didn't it? Alas, that is what Daddy would have said if he were in my shoes. But when it comes to salesmanship I am not my father's daughter.

This is really what happened: I did some hasty self-deprecating verbal backtracking, laughed it off, beat a hasty and sheepish retreat to my corner of the bakery, and avoided Tim for the rest of the day. Periodically I would start thinking about it and get embarrassed all over again. It was a great day.