Some of you may know that I am a leader for meetings for a
particular company. No names mentioned,
but it’s one of the leaders in the weight loss industry. I love it, I feel passionate about it, and I truly want to help other people get on-board and feeling good about themselves. (and commercial ends ;)
So I was super-pumped to add a new meeting to my rotation,
especially since it is practically in my backyard, and it would mean not having
to leave so early to rush to get there.
Until I arrived and discovered that none of the members that attend this
meeting knew that their regular leader had left. I was stepping into a situation where no one
was even aware that there was a gap.
Awkward. Because
peeps be loyal to their leaders, yo. (Proving that I am *just* that whack.)
Anyway, the acceptable ‘company line’ for a situation such
as this is:
“Frieda is no longer with
the company.”
Turns out, though, when you are nervous, and unsure as to
how you, personally, will be received upon delivery of this news… well, it can
come out a lot like this:
“Frieda is no longer with us.”
(Absorbing the look of shock on member’s face.)
“I know, I know. It
was unexpected.”
And when you notice the look of horror, it is perfectly
acceptable to say, “Omigod!! I mean, she’s
ALIVE and everything!” Nope, not weird at all.
It just becomes really awkward when you get a case of the
nervous giggles while you are saying it.
I wish I could say this happened only once.
I’m FAIRLY certain that no one left thinking that their
former leader had gone on to that big meeting in the sky. But now that I think about it, I *did* tell a
few people that while I would do my very best, and they would grow to LOVE me, that it was perfectly okay to be sad and miss Frieda.
Hmmm. Could get
really, really awkward next week.
