Always, ALWAYS check the "To:" line
Posted 10:54 PM, October 18, 2007, by luciadvmSo, I just learned a really really important lesson about email. Always, ALWAYS check the "To" line...
I had a policy committee teleconference today, but due to numerous conflicts with scheduling, I only ended up with one other person on the call. I happen to chair this committee, so of course I was a bit... well, bummed. One member, who is really my mentor on the committee, as he was the chair before I was, had emailed to explain why he couldn't make the call and asked how it went. I sent my reply, but I didn't realize that for some reason his "reply to" address was different than his "from" address, and thus, emailed the following to the ENTIRE policy committee:
hey k,
after sitting on the telecon line for over 10 minutes, having once
redialed to make sure i put in the right moderator code, singing
lonely sad songs to myself (country music seemed best suited, though
it's not what i usually listen to), L. finally came on. so
she and i just socialized for an hour. i was like, wow, i must really suck, i can't even get anyone to attend a telecon, even after my exciting "just got back from CCLI had many good ideas this won't be a boring call" note.
OOPS! Well, I guess on the list of "awkward email moments" this ranks fairly low, at least I didn't say anything embarrassing. And of course, I followed up this email with an email to the group, explaining the mistake and also subtly hinting that maybe they should feel guilty enough to attend the make-up meeting next week.
If anything, I got a great response for the meeting next week--seems people respond to pity more than they do to a plain ol' telecon announcement. I'll have to keep that in mind.
The upshot (and greater picture) of this is, of course, that working on this committee has given me extraordinary insight into what it takes to lead a committee--not just in terms of getting the work done, but in motivating volunteers, giving them a sense of ownership of their projects and a sense of community.
I guess the other big picture is be careful of what you write in an email, you never know where it will end up after you hit send.
Over and out.
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