Responding to Email blunder (not mine)

[Anonymous]

I'm an in-house counsel at a large company. The company uses external and internal titles. So my business cards say VP, but my internal title is director. On my email signature box, I have my title as VP. I use the same sig box for internal and external emails (never occurred to me not to).

Anyway, today I got an email reply from my boss's secretary. I think she meant to forward it, but replied by mistake. Her email said "this lady has been here a month and is signing her name as VP - too funny!!! (She's a director.)".

Presumably she was talking about me, and, like I said, meant to forward but hit reply.

I'm embarrassed, but also mad. I mean, wtf? My business cards say VP. I'm somewhat young for my role, and do a lot of external work for the company, so I like to include my title so that people don't think they're getting stuck with someone junior who doesn't have any authority. And this secretary has been here for 10+ years, so I can't see how she doesn't know about the internal/external titles.

How should I address it? Just ignore? Forward to my boss and ask what the general practice is at the company regarding titles? Reply, explaining that VP is actually my title?

[Anonymous]

I would talk with someone there about firm culture and expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an in-house counsel at a large company. The company uses external and internal titles. So my business cards say VP, but my internal title is director. On my email signature box, I have my title as VP. I use the same sig box for internal and external emails (never occurred to me not to).

Anyway, today I got an email reply from my boss's secretary. I think she meant to forward it, but replied by mistake. Her email said "this lady has been here a month and is signing her name as VP - too funny!!! (She's a director.)".

Presumably she was talking about me, and, like I said, meant to forward but hit reply.

I'm embarrassed, but also mad. I mean, wtf? My business cards say VP. I'm somewhat young for my role, and do a lot of external work for the company, so I like to include my title so that people don't think they're getting stuck with someone junior who doesn't have any authority. And this secretary has been here for 10+ years, so I can't see how she doesn't know about the internal/external titles.

How should I address it? Just ignore? Forward to my boss and ask what the general practice is at the company regarding titles? Reply, explaining that VP is actually my title?

Oh, I would absolutely respond. Your idea of forwarding to your boss is good- the other one would be to respond to her:

"Lara, it looks like this message was meant for someone else. However, as you rightly point out, I have only been her a month. Is there some reason not to use my external title on emails? If so, please share! I always appreciate some help learning the ropes."

And CC your boss.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how you would respond, but I'd be pissed too! I would not be embarrassed. My org does the same--I have a way lower internal title, but my external title is VP, and I use that as my sig file for everything, including internal emails. No one bats an eye here, as everyone knows about external titles.

Do you have anyone at your company you trust who has been there longer who can give you advice?

[Anonymous]

I'd ignore HER. If you can find a way to double-check your title with your boss without making it about her at all, go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an in-house counsel at a large company. The company uses external and internal titles. So my business cards say VP, but my internal title is director. On my email signature box, I have my title as VP. I use the same sig box for internal and external emails (never occurred to me not to).

Anyway, today I got an email reply from my boss's secretary. I think she meant to forward it, but replied by mistake. Her email said "this lady has been here a month and is signing her name as VP - too funny!!! (She's a director.)".

Presumably she was talking about me, and, like I said, meant to forward but hit reply.

I'm embarrassed, but also mad. I mean, wtf? My business cards say VP. I'm somewhat young for my role, and do a lot of external work for the company, so I like to include my title so that people don't think they're getting stuck with someone junior who doesn't have any authority. And this secretary has been here for 10+ years, so I can't see how she doesn't know about the internal/external titles.

How should I address it? Just ignore? Forward to my boss and ask what the general practice is at the company regarding titles? Reply, explaining that VP is actually my title?

Oh, I would absolutely respond. Your idea of forwarding to your boss is good- the other one would be to respond to her:

"Lara, it looks like this message was meant for someone else. However, as you rightly point out, I have only been her a month. Is there some reason not to use my external title on emails? If so, please share! I always appreciate some help learning the ropes."

And CC your boss.

I said to ignore her, but tbh I quite like this.

[Anonymous]

I would reply to the email with something like:

Hi _______,
Presumably you meant to forward this, rather than send it to me? Just to clarify, although my internal title is Director, my external title is VP, and that's why it's included in my signature line. Glad I could provide some amusement for you, though!

Best,
OP

[Anonymous]

Not familiar with external/internal titles. What is the reason for it? It is really so customers/clients feel they are getting someone higher up the ladder than they really are? Like the reason at some retail stores almost everyone is an "assistant manager"? What would you use on a resume?

[Anonymous]

I would forward to your boss as well and ask for clarification.

The snarky, immature part of me would also like to reply to her pointing out that she's been there 10 years and still hits reply instead of forward.

I wouldn't do it though.. let the boss handle her blunder if he/she is so inclined.

[Anonymous]

DO NOT PISS OFF YOUR BOSSES SECRETARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will make his life miserable and hence your life will be miserable. Print the email. Quietly ask your boss if you are using the wrong title on your emails.

1. It makes you look humble.
2. You told on the secretary without it looking like you told on the secretary. (Telling on the secretary make you a little bitch. BTW.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an in-house counsel at a large company. The company uses external and internal titles. So my business cards say VP, but my internal title is director. On my email signature box, I have my title as VP. I use the same sig box for internal and external emails (never occurred to me not to).

Anyway, today I got an email reply from my boss's secretary. I think she meant to forward it, but replied by mistake. Her email said "this lady has been here a month and is signing her name as VP - too funny!!! (She's a director.)".

Presumably she was talking about me, and, like I said, meant to forward but hit reply.

I'm embarrassed, but also mad. I mean, wtf? My business cards say VP. I'm somewhat young for my role, and do a lot of external work for the company, so I like to include my title so that people don't think they're getting stuck with someone junior who doesn't have any authority. And this secretary has been here for 10+ years, so I can't see how she doesn't know about the internal/external titles.

How should I address it? Just ignore? Forward to my boss and ask what the general practice is at the company regarding titles? Reply, explaining that VP is actually my title?

Oh, I would absolutely respond. Your idea of forwarding to your boss is good- the other one would be to respond to her:

"Lara, it looks like this message was meant for someone else. However, as you rightly point out, I have only been her a month. Is there some reason not to use my external title on emails? If so, please share! I always appreciate some help learning the ropes."

And CC your boss.

Please do this! And share what happens.

[Anonymous]

There's no way I'd go to your boss. I would do something like the PPs proposed: reply to her and ask her why you shouldn't use your external title in your signature. That keeps it between the two of you...and she'll always know that you knew she was a complete asshole and you kept it quiet. Leverage like that can be valuable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DO NOT PISS OFF YOUR BOSSES SECRETARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will make his life miserable and hence your life will be miserable. Print the email. Quietly ask your boss if you are using the wrong title on your emails.

1. It makes you look humble.
2. You told on the secretary without it looking like you told on the secretary. (Telling on the secretary make you a little bitch. BTW.)

I agree but she also needs to talk to secretary. She can do that without making her mad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DO NOT PISS OFF YOUR BOSSES SECRETARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will make his life miserable and hence your life will be miserable. Print the email. Quietly ask your boss if you are using the wrong title on your emails.

1. It makes you look humble.
2. You told on the secretary without it looking like you told on the secretary. (Telling on the secretary make you a little bitch. BTW.)

I agree but she also needs to talk to secretary. She can do that without making her mad.

No she can't. The secretary is already embarrassed which heightens emotions. She does not need to humiliate the secretary to prove she is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no way I'd go to your boss. I would do something like the PPs proposed: reply to her and ask her why you shouldn't use your external title in your signature. That keeps it between the two of you...and she'll always know that you knew she was a complete asshole and you kept it quiet. Leverage like that can be valuable.

!!

She may be the gatekeeper to your boss so probably best not to piss her off/embarrass her with him but offering a bit of humble pie, is fine.

I don't even know if director or VP is higher anyway, if it matters.