Ask Matt
Matt Chiaramonte
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Opinion
Welcome to Ask Matt, where people are welcome to seek advice from revered sage and C-average columnist Matt Chiaramonte. Matt is not a licensed doctor and has no training in psychology, but he has seen every episode of "House" and used to receive piano lessons down the hall from a psychologist's office. This is Ask Matt's "inaugural" letter, anonymously sent to him from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Dear Matt,
I am seeking your advice. I recently was thrown into a new job with a lot riding on me. The people whom I have to serve are expecting me to be their messiah, and I am a little overwhelmed.
You see, the guy who had the job before me left me quite a mess to deal with. It seems like it will take a long time to get everything back on track, and I don't want to let all these people down. I made a lot of promises during the interview process, and I am not sure how to tell them that I cannot make them all come true right away.
I can't face them and say, "No We Can't!" I need your advice, Matt, please help.
Sincerely,
Complainer in Chief
Dear Complainer,
First of all, you need to take a deep breath. It seems these people of whom you are so afraid of letting down have put a lot of thought into giving you this job. I am sure that they understand that you are not a messiah or magician or mystical creature sent to us from Krypton. You do have a lot of work to do, and because you have different ideals then your predecessor, your job will be that much harder.
At this point, all you can do is be honest with the people and completely up front with them about all your actions. This will be new to them, and as such I'm sure they will appreciate it. Nobody is expecting you to fix all the problems right away; they just want to see that you are working.
You have sailed into this job on a pretty high horse and at the moment there is only one direction you can go. But once you show these people some positive action and make it clear that you are there to serve them, they will rally behind you. If you show the people leadership, I promise you that they will show you patience.
Keep your head up, Champ.
Matt
Dear Matt,
I am seeking your advice. I recently was thrown into a new job with a lot riding on me. The people whom I have to serve are expecting me to be their messiah, and I am a little overwhelmed.
You see, the guy who had the job before me left me quite a mess to deal with. It seems like it will take a long time to get everything back on track, and I don't want to let all these people down. I made a lot of promises during the interview process, and I am not sure how to tell them that I cannot make them all come true right away.
I can't face them and say, "No We Can't!" I need your advice, Matt, please help.
Sincerely,
Complainer in Chief
Dear Complainer,
First of all, you need to take a deep breath. It seems these people of whom you are so afraid of letting down have put a lot of thought into giving you this job. I am sure that they understand that you are not a messiah or magician or mystical creature sent to us from Krypton. You do have a lot of work to do, and because you have different ideals then your predecessor, your job will be that much harder.
At this point, all you can do is be honest with the people and completely up front with them about all your actions. This will be new to them, and as such I'm sure they will appreciate it. Nobody is expecting you to fix all the problems right away; they just want to see that you are working.
You have sailed into this job on a pretty high horse and at the moment there is only one direction you can go. But once you show these people some positive action and make it clear that you are there to serve them, they will rally behind you. If you show the people leadership, I promise you that they will show you patience.
Keep your head up, Champ.
Matt
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