Remember last summer when working from home still felt somewhat novel? Let me take you back to that fateful Tuesday in July when my carefully cultivated professional image quite literally melted down in real-time.
Picture it: I’m presenting quarterly projections to our entire executive team. I’ve strategically positioned my laptop to showcase my tastefully decorated home office (while hiding the laundry pile just out of frame). My hair is done, I’m wearing my power blazer (with sweatpants below, naturally), and I’m absolutely nailing this presentation.
Then it happens. My air conditioner makes a sound that can only be described as “angry robot dying,” followed by complete silence. In Maryland’s July humidity, it takes approximately 87 seconds for a room to transform from “professional environment” to “tropical rainforest.”
By slide seven, I’m visibly sweating. By slide twelve, I’ve abandoned all pretense and am openly fanning myself with a folder. The CFO, bless his heart, finally asks, “Kay, are you okay? You look… dewy.”
Cue me explaining that my HVAC system had chosen this exact moment to stage a rebellion. Our CEO actually laughed and said, “Call my guy in Frederick, MD. Best HVAC service in the area, saved my basement office last summer during that heatwave.”
What followed was a masterclass in professional vulnerability. Instead of pretending everything was fine (my usual move), I acknowledged the situation, made a quick joke about “bringing the heat to these projections,” and continued with my presentation.
Surprisingly, that moment of unplanned authenticity generated more engagement than any perfectly executed presentation I’d given before. Executives shared their own work-from-home disasters (our COO’s cat once knocked over her green screen during an investor call), and suddenly, we were all humans dealing with human problems.
The lessons? First, always have a backup plan for your home office infrastructure (and yes, I did call that HVAC service in Frederick MD, and they were indeed as good as promised). Second, sometimes dropping the professional veneer creates more meaningful connections than maintaining it.
And third? Maybe keep a handheld fan within reach of your desk. Just in case.
Until next time,
Kay
P.S. I now keep the number of that HVAC company saved in my contacts under “Professional Emergency.” Some things are just too important to risk.
