Hello all, 

This past Friday, I was in a meeting at work where I'm usually fairly comfortable among the colleagues that are usually in these meetings, However, that day was a little different.  My department head is usually part of these meetings and will field all questions directed our way.  He couldn't make it that day so I was the lone representative from our business unit.  Halfway through the meeting, I was asked to explain how we used a certain software program that the company is looking to change.  I could feel the eyes awaiting my reply, about 15 people plus 10 more on the phone in a different city.  I stuttered quite a bit and I noticed one of my colleagues quietly leave the room.  He came back a couple minutes later with two other people from my department who had not been asked to attend the meeting.  They had to explain everything that I had been unable to do because of my stutter.

This doesn't happen often but when it does, it's extremely embarrassing and it makes me feel inadequate and stupid.  I know my job very well, I work hard at it, but it feels like all of that work and dedication just goes out the window when something like this happens.  It was a bad day and I'm trying to put it behind me now, but I wonder what the conversation was like after the meeting with those 10 people calling in from a different city.  Did my colleagues re-tell the story over a round of drinks after work?  Was it relayed to my director, and if so, what were his comments?   

I can't answer these questions, all I can do is soldier on and hope for a better day tomorrow.  Thanks for reading!