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Nina
Did you see Elise's reply? Three lines, no greeting, and she ended with 'Regards' instead of 'Thanks.' I'm fairly sure she's annoyed.
Free Reading exercise · Lesson 26 of 32
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Did you see Elise's reply? Three lines, no greeting, and she ended with 'Regards' instead of 'Thanks.' I'm fairly sure she's annoyed.
I wouldn't take it personally. She's like that with everyone.
It wasn't only brief. She wrote, 'Please make no further revisions until I have reviewed the variance.' It sounds as though she thinks I created a mess.
Or it means she wants one stable version while she checks the figures. A short reply doesn't necessarily mean she's annoyed.
But I changed the forecast twice, and the second change wasn't in my note. She has a reason to be frustrated.
She might be. I'm not claiming she definitely isn't. I'm saying the email itself doesn't prove it.
The full stop after 'Received' felt cold, and she copied Finance. She normally copies them only when something matters.
Something does matter: the variance affects the quarterly forecast. Copying Finance may be procedural rather than punitive.
You make her sound completely neutral, but last month she told us that unexplained changes waste everyone's time.
That explains the instruction; it doesn't reveal her emotion. You're moving from 'she may be concerned' to 'she's angry with me.'
Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Still, you've worked with her longer. Has she ever sent you something that formal when she was pleased?
Yes. When she approved my promotion request, her entire reply was, 'Approved. Submit to HR.' Later she congratulated me in person.
That's useful evidence, although my situation isn't exactly positive. I did leave out an important change.
Right, don't dismiss possible dissatisfaction. Separate what we know from what you're assuming. We know she wants the file frozen and reviewed.
Would you apologize now, before she asks about the missing note?
Not for 'annoying' her; we don't know that you did. I'd acknowledge the omitted change, confirm the freeze, and attach a change log.
And perhaps ask whether she'd prefer a quick conversation after the review?
Exactly. That addresses the communication problem without treating your interpretation of her tone as a confirmed fact.
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