I don’t recall seeing anyone else advise this, but make sure your resume is up to date and keep an eye out for newer and better jobs elsewhere.
FWIW, I’m voting for the e-mail already proposed.
Yelling Guy is a colossal jerk but I’d assume he’s a rainmaker. Whether in business, law or whatever, those who rake in the bucks get an immunity not granted to others.
Offhand I’m guessing this emergency out-of-town meeting had everybody in the ivory tower scrambling. Or at least appear to hustle, if ya know what I mean. The secretary probably was catching the brunt of the burden–who knows what finicky arrangments TPTB considered neccessary?–but most importantly, she was right on the scene. She was working on their side, to grease the wheels of their trip. You, on the other hand, were a step removed and therfore a hindrance by following procedure. It’s deeply stupid, but out-of-sight-out-of-mind is a reality. They didn’t think, none of 'em, and you got caught in the crossfire of their drama.
A professional, objective e-mail would remind all parties that you want to be able to respond quickly in emergencies as well. You’re positively panting, yearning to be of service to the Yelling Schmuck and his over-worked secretary. But dear, oh dear, how can you be part of the solution (quit gagging, inane jargon can cut two ways) when current procedures inhibit fast response? If you’re feeling daring, suggest that the secretary serve on a committee how to steamline procedures, poor little suffering IT customer that she was. (This is a real kick in the guts, as 1. nobody in their right mind wants to get drafted onto yet another inane committee and 2. it makes her partially responsible for any solution. Evil, isn’t it?)
It’s all piously reasonable, altruistically motivated as hell, non-judgmental–and unanswerable. It won’t lead to any hard examination of Yelling Schmuck’s behavior, or exactly how over-wrought the secretary really was, but it’ll get you well and truly off the hook. The graybacks will probably rumble and pick lice out of each others’ fur for a while and that’ll be an end to any actual change. But they’ll probably also avoid you and your department the next time they stampede.
Work can actually be sorta fun if you approach it as a game of mind fuck.
Good luck, UrbanChic. You aren’t being a wimp for choosing how and when to respond. Appropriate…balance often takes time to craft.
Veb
Come on, I’m not the only one who sees the irony in this, am I?
A lawyer got angry with her for following procedure! That’s hilarious!
Next time you get yelled at for following procedure, just tell him you were afraid you’d get sued if you deviated. 