Some organization had called for a pitch today. Ours was among the agencies who went to present some ideas, and hopefully get the business.
I was working on the presentation for more than a week, adding a point here, removing a verb there whenever I could. I stayed back after everyone left and did something whenever I couldn't.
Finally, I sent the finished work to my boss a few days ago, who made some 'improvements' to it and was to present it with other account guys today. Then I was told that I had to come to the presentation. I agreed reluctantly, the workload and my inability to speak in front of an audience being the chief reasons.
I went, the presentation started, and I came to know what 'improvements' were. The man, in all his wisdom, had added a few slides describing what the problem was. That's all.
It takes a special kind of talent to tell people (who know what's wrong) what their problems are. In detail.
They cut him to the chase. 'Can you please move to the strategy part?' and the big man threw me in the ring by saying 'Of course, let my colleague explain' after a few moments of awkward silence.
I did what I could, and the guys on the other side of the table took my utterances quite seriously. Still, I think we're not going to get it and the whole thing was a big waste of everyone's time. MY time.
I can't understand why people do this. Repeating things everyone knows because they don't feel there's enough material for a conversation.
Maybe they don't feel adequate if they don't contribute in some way. Maybe I am the stupid one who thinks its not OK to talk if I can't add value to the conversation.
And the best part? I got to listen '(y)our strategy was way too generic I think.. they would have heard something like this hundred times already'.
He is in charge of creating those strategies.
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