Speakerphone Embarrassment
A few weeks ago, I was talking to one of my co-workers about
several projects we had been working on in the past few months.
I put her on speakerphone so that I could have both hands free
for pulling up data on my desk PC. A few minutes later, another
co-worker entered my office with a report pertaining to one of
our projects which we had been anxiously awaiting. The co-worker
who handed me the report was silent, seeing that I was on the
phone. I told the co-worker I was on the phone with that I had
just received the report from the other co-worker, to which she
relied "He really creeps me out, for some reason". Of course,
the co-worker in question heard her say that, and there I was
sitting their with my mouth agape at what had just happened. I
looked at him and before I could say anything, my co-worker on
the phone went into a tirade, criticizing this man for his
demeanor while he was standing there listening to every word. I
stopped her and said that I would have to call her back as I was
needed down the hall. Needless to say, I was thoroughly
embarrassed and apologized profusely for her behavior. I told
him that I certainly didn't feel that way or agree with her and
that I hoped her saying those things would not give him a bad
impression of me. I could tell he was upset, having just heard
that someone disliked him for being himself, and I felt awful
about the whole incident. After he left my office, I then
started to think of how I had failed mention that he was in my
office to my co-worker on the phone. I felt completely
responsible for what would now be a strained relationship at
best between those two.
I now only use the speakerphone option during meetings. I never
heard any more from him in regard to the situation, nor did I
ever tell my other co-worker that he had heard what she said.
Despite nothing really happening, I plan to play it safe next
time to avoid being sorry. Maybe I'll get a headset for those
times when I need both hands free. Anything which could help to
avoid having a situation like that happen again is a smart idea.