Alicia, Alicia...*sigh

Photo source: Toni&Guy

My friend, Wayne, is an assistant hair-stylist. He is working at ψ (a famous salon in Singapore) and he recently needs a model for his internal stylist competition.

Just after knowing the event, Alicia comes to my mind immediately. Alicia was one of my classmate for ES1301 and we got along quite well before the conflict surfaced.

I made a phone call to Alicia right away. After knowing that the haircut was free and offered by ψ, Alicia was very happy to accept the offer.

Wayne has talked to Alicia, too and Alicia has promised that she will help him.

Unfortunately, it was raining heavily on the competition day.

“I can’t go to ψ now!”
“Where are you now? I can lend you my umbrella.”
“I don’t want to wet my clothes and ruin my make-up. In addition, I just got well from a fever.”
“How about getting a cab?”
“I don’t want to pay for it.”
“But you has promised Wayne that you’ll help him.”
“How about tomorrow?”
“No way! He will be in hot water.”
“It's pouring rain. Can you tell him that I'm sorry? Bye."
“Wait! I’ll pay for the cab fare, is it alright?”

Nevertheless, Alicia kept her words but was late for 40mins.

According to Wayne, Alicia didn't look presentable that day. Her hair and clothes were wet.

After that, Alicia just ignores me when we meet in the campus. I’ve try to pay her back the cab fare but she rejected it in an anger way.

I hope that we can talk again but she just wanted to shutdown all the communication channels between her and me.

Did I say something wrong? What should I do now?

My embarrassment.

"Have you checked your email this morning?"
"Not yet. I was busy troubleshooting the ultrasonic lid welder this morning."
"OK, never-mind. We will have 6 new employees on this coming Monday. I'd like you to give them PLC (programmable logic control for automation) and MicroCure (variable frequency microwave oven) training on Tuesday and Wednesday. Is it alright?"
"It's alright but, boss, i have never been a trainer before. I'm afraid that..."
"Don't worry. Just teach them what you know and tell them the most common problems as well as the solutions about the machines."
"OK, I'll give it a try.."

I was a technical specialist at InkJet Manufacturing Supply Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Private) Limited before i pursue B. Sc at NUS. I was shocked when i heard the news and my mind went blank. "Well, like Desmond (my boss that time) said, don't worry and just tell them what i know. As easy as pie." I told myself.

When Tuesday came, i was so nervous (i don't know why!) and my heart beat 100 times a minute. In fact there is nothing that i should be afraid of as I'm so familiar with the machine as well as the software. But somehow, i just cannot conquer the fear. Instead, my mind was overtaken by the fear!

"Relax!" i kept telling myself that.

There were an Indian (from India, not local), 2 Chinese (from China, not local as well) and 3 locals. As you might have expected, I was in a mess; the Indian and the Chinese did not understand most of my "English"! Worst, my face was stiffed as a board and i stammered off and on. They were lost when i explained the troubleshooting guideline. I was so embarrassed.

Also, I've made a lot of mistakes and conveyed a lot of wrong ideas as i was so nervous to express myself right. At the end of the day, i think the Indian and the Chinese could barely understand 20% of the trainings. It was such a waste of time.

From that day onwards, I've finally realized the importance of professional communication. If I was well equipped with the skills of effective communication for the training, i would express myself concisely. We will have no waste of time and, most importantly, i can avoid such a big embarrassment. When i have graduated and have started my working life again, regardless work as a scientist, engineer, science teacher or even technical specialist again, i believe that everyday of my life is about "presentation"--normal conversation, idea sharing or even making a complain in front of my boss. All these require the art of effective communication in order to obtain the best result. So, being an effective communicator, it would have a big advantage in my life and i won't be on edge to express myself anymore.

How i wish i could present myself like Steve Jobs one day!