Don't make your substitute look silly!

30/9/08

In fact it's not really a case of making your substitute look silly, it's more a case of not making yourself look badly prepared.

It's happened before but what made it stick in my mind recently was the fact that the same thing happened in three different meetings one after the other! The substitute got up and read the script that they had been given and each time had to stop, the first time because something had been added to a typed sheet and the person wasn't sure where the next part was, the second time because the hand-written copy was so bad that they couldn't understand it, and the third time because what they had been given just didn't make sense.

I can even remember cases where the substitute has stood up and said, ' ...... said they would send me something but nothing turned up, so I'll just say what it says on their card'.

No, it doesn't make your substitute look silly but it does embarrass them and they do spend a great deal of time apologising.

So, please be kind to the person who is substituting for you and send them a perfect copy of the 60 seconds that you want them to present for you. And, ask them to read it in advance and come back to you if all is not clear.

Not only will your substitute not mind covering for you again in the future but you will be demonstrating to the group how well organised you are!