I am running into some challenging things at work. What I have been told, is that the former secretary thought she knew a lot but in fact did not. I am not sure if she did or didn't know. I can't understand what the benefit would be to some of the things she did, if she knew how to do it right?
Here are a couple examples that I've been dealing with, these are just two of several to pick from.
1. Attendance sheets done in Excel. First issue, she put 8 classes on one excel worksheet. Why? Why not just do them all in one file on separate worksheets so you can print them off individually or together and updating each class is easier? She also formatted them weird, so there were page breaks that made them print blank pages. The Pages were numbered by her at the bottom, but incorrectly so the page would show the faded number on it from excel (this she knew how to do?) but then the page she numbered it--that would print on it was different. Somehow when I added two pages it would not print them. She set it to print the specific pages 1-10 and it would not include the class I added? grrrrr. So I took sometime to "dumb" it down and therefore make it a workable document.
2. We have a software program for the church. It should do all kinds of wonderful things for me. Create phone directory, track attendance, print labels. These are just a few of the things this program has the ability to do. She input a ton of information in the program wrong. The phone directory doesn't print phone numbers! There are misspelled names and she never added groups to track attendance, the list goes on and on --as one person stated today because she was so sure she knew how to do things, she single handily set us back a good year on what we are able to do with this program. Also because of the history with her, I do not know when or if I will be able to get the program to do what I want. Someone needs to take the time to "fix" it, but if I become the administrator for that I will have access to contributions (this program does not allow a person to write to more then one login unless they are the administrator.) So, there will be a board meeting in March, where I hope to have the Board decide if they are comfortable with me and someone in my position being the administrator and if they are I will fix (if I can) the screw ups. If they are not comfortable with me doing it, I may have a program that I never get to fully use. GRRRRRRRRR!
I am not perfect. Even with someone proofing my bulletins I had the incorrect date on it last week--grrr. There are a lot of details to my job, I try to be good at the details, but occasionally I mess up. I created a template with the date blank so I have to add it and highlighted the areas that I have to change on the template to try to avoid that mistake again.
I'm not saying everyone is perfect, I am just saying that it makes me think twice before I say I can do something.
5 comments:
If those are the mistakes you have made, then you are a huge improvement over the previous person. Some mistakes anyone can make, and some take a certain type of person.
Me? One example is that I had "essence" misspelled on my blog description for a year and a half.
Sounds like the lady you replaced was pretty set in her ways. Everybody has a different work style.
Sounds frustrating. Does the previous secretary still go to your church or did she leave with the previous pastor?
Don't be too hard on yourself. I am sure you are doing a great job. Definitely better than the previous secretary.
It sounds like she didn't know alot about Excel, just winged it. It sounds like your mistakes are not that bad. You will get better with time and practice.
This is where you get to be a star and outshine the previous lady. I am sure your improvements will be noticed and you'll get an upgraded ticket to Heaven.
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