Real people in the workplace
When did I start emailing adults with a real career about work-related things? I must have been tricked into it. A brief reflection on everyday struggles of an awkward extrovert.
During my previous job I sent zero e-mails and never interacted with people about work-related issues. Which, I’m sure, sounds like a dream job for an introvert. Alas, I have a creative and ‘let’s do it’ approach to tasks, sometimes I even create my own tasks.
"They might come in handy at some point." She says, looking down at a pile of charts, graphs, and scribbled white-boards.
Soon I found out, in order to complete most tasks you need to interact with people. As long as you’re new to a job nobody will expect you to speak for your team, luckily! But now I am realising I am sending emails to people that have business cards, name tags, a career path, and I got none of that.
All I have is a signature on Outlook and a resourceful spirit.
When did I start interacting to real people?
Have I been tricked into that?
To this day, I am still not sure if I should introduce myself even when I speak on behalf of the team, if I should sound friendly, if ‘how are you’ is a thing in work related emails, maybe straight to the point is the way to go... Will I sound too unapologetic? Some may say ‘bossy’, others might say efficient. Ideally, I'd like to sound competent and someone you can relate to. How do you do it?
Sometimes, I put all my best effort in compiling a formal letter my English teacher would be proud of, and I receive a ‘Ta mate, sent from my iphone’ as a reply. This especially brings back memories from correspondence with professors at Uni. Once, my philosophy professor in replying to my email asked what was I doing awake at 3 am.
Things that should have remained a secret.
All these people I have interacted via e-mail with hold a place in some sort of Olympus of job titles in my head, like they are higher beings of infinite knowledge with mythical powers. Well, most of these people turn out to be normal people, with funny voices and colourful socks.
These God-like creatures are real people, and some may not know what they’re doing either, just like me! I'll go as far as saying that some have added me on Linkedin more out-of-the-blue than my Linkedin mishap, and managed to make it seem 'networking'.
Image: via
During my previous job I sent zero e-mails and never interacted with people about work-related issues. Which, I’m sure, sounds like a dream job for an introvert. Alas, I have a creative and ‘let’s do it’ approach to tasks, sometimes I even create my own tasks.
"They might come in handy at some point." She says, looking down at a pile of charts, graphs, and scribbled white-boards.
Soon I found out, in order to complete most tasks you need to interact with people. As long as you’re new to a job nobody will expect you to speak for your team, luckily! But now I am realising I am sending emails to people that have business cards, name tags, a career path, and I got none of that.
All I have is a signature on Outlook and a resourceful spirit.
When did I start interacting to real people?
Have I been tricked into that?
To this day, I am still not sure if I should introduce myself even when I speak on behalf of the team, if I should sound friendly, if ‘how are you’ is a thing in work related emails, maybe straight to the point is the way to go... Will I sound too unapologetic? Some may say ‘bossy’, others might say efficient. Ideally, I'd like to sound competent and someone you can relate to. How do you do it?
Sometimes, I put all my best effort in compiling a formal letter my English teacher would be proud of, and I receive a ‘Ta mate, sent from my iphone’ as a reply. This especially brings back memories from correspondence with professors at Uni. Once, my philosophy professor in replying to my email asked what was I doing awake at 3 am.
Things that should have remained a secret.
All these people I have interacted via e-mail with hold a place in some sort of Olympus of job titles in my head, like they are higher beings of infinite knowledge with mythical powers. Well, most of these people turn out to be normal people, with funny voices and colourful socks.
These God-like creatures are real people, and some may not know what they’re doing either, just like me! I'll go as far as saying that some have added me on Linkedin more out-of-the-blue than my Linkedin mishap, and managed to make it seem 'networking'.
Image: via
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