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Well, the Chicago seminar is going great. Wonderful group, tons of questions and arguments and jokes and crazy stories . . . the perfect seminar.
But boy, did I put my foot in my mouth today. Sometimes, I can't believe I even have a job.
I was talking about this interactive, online tool that one big company has on its intranet. It's a way for employees to ask the top guy questions, and the top guy is great about answering anything and everything. And the guy has really grown into the tool . . . in fact, he loves it now. He brings it up in meetings, and tells employees about it when he sees them in different corporate settings.
And in trying to capture his enthusiasm, I said to this group of mostly women:
"This guy tells everybody about his tool!"
Thank God everybody laughed . . . but I was mortified. I mean, making jokes is one thing . . . but referring to an executive's tool is something else entirely.
Sometimes, I suck at public speaking.
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Feels like Total Recall. Er, Philip K Dick?
Actually, with Steve's example it's a bit scary --- standing at the urinal...
Comments (8)
I have no idea what you are talking about.
But I am *definitely* writing a letter.
-Neruda
Posted by S Neruda | October 14, 2005 9:41 AM
Posted on October 14, 2005 09:41
Look on the bright side. At least you know they were paying attention.
Posted by Shari S | October 14, 2005 12:41 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 12:41
Somehow I find it hard to believe that you would be mortified by such an innocuous slip of the tongue.
Posted by Craig Jolley | October 14, 2005 1:17 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 13:17
At least you didn't say it was a flexible tool, designed to grow with the company. And best of all, you didn't call it a solution.
BUT ... I'll bet everyone there remembers not only your oopsie but also most of the serious details of what you said.
Posted by Tim Hicks, lapsed ABC | October 14, 2005 1:23 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 13:23
I'm offended by the use of "tool" and "executive" in the same sentence. :-)
Posted by Robert J Holland, ABC | October 14, 2005 2:07 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 14:07
Steve - I attended your first Master Class this week and thought it was extremely useful - and fun. I definitely recommend it to anyone responsible for employee communications. We had some great dialog with our group, and I can't wait to start putting some of the ideas to work. This is my first time posting to a blog - or even reading one. I'll be a regular from now on.
Posted by Tiffini Bloniarz | October 14, 2005 10:59 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 22:59
was this intranet "tool" from a company with a batwing emsignia?
as a former member of that tribe, i have heard of this "tool", but never saw it...
you know, it's really hard to write this comment knowing that others are laughing at me....thanks A LOT....
Posted by jbr | October 17, 2005 2:15 PM
Posted on October 17, 2005 14:15
Don't keep us in suspense: did they like his tool? A slip of the tongue nonetheless and proof positive your group was engaged.
Posted by Mason | October 25, 2005 3:44 PM
Posted on October 25, 2005 15:44