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Unexpected Questions


How do you handle someone needing an immediate response when a quick response is not in your repertoire? Case in point, I got a call concerning a reference for a job last week.  I had not expected the call. 

Now, as I have repeatedly stated, I am not a quick responder.  I am a processor.  I like to think about all aspects of a question and make sure I can say exactly what I mean to say before I say it.  I like to be precise and clear.

But, I was asked for information and answered the questions as best I could in the moment.  And then I thought about it for the next 24 hours.  I realized there were things I missed saying and a particular thing I did say that I did not feel was clear.

I wasn't sure how to handle it and decided the truth would be best.  I called back and asked if I could provide more information. That was one way to handle it.  It worked out well and I felt comfortable with what I said.  Another way I could have handled it (if I thought quickly enough to begin with) would have been to ask if I could call them back and given myself time to think.  

The best thing would have been to expect the call.  So for those of you out there who want to use a processor for a reference – tell them to expect the call.  Give us the chance to think out what we want to say and exactly how we want to say it.  It will be better for all of us, I promise.

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