Kiruba's Amazing Information

Updated September 2026: in 2019, midway through my vacation, my manager asked me to join an early call on a difficult opportunity. I joined on mute, and when the onsite lead demanded to know what I had done in the past few days, my manager defended me. I have rewritten it into advice on joining a work call from leave on your own terms.

The first days of my vacation were quiet. Then, early one morning, my manager called to ask whether I could join a call on the same opportunity. With little choice, I agreed, saying I would stay on mute because of carpentry work at home. On the call, the onsite lead questioned my manager about what I had done over the last few days. This time my manager stood up for me.

Should you join a call while on leave?

Only when it is genuinely important, and on clear terms. A single call to answer questions that only you can answer is reasonable. Being pulled into ongoing work is not. If you agree, set the terms at the start: how long you can join and what you can and cannot commit to.

How do you set those terms politely?

• "I can join for twenty minutes to answer questions about the deck."
• "I am on leave until Monday, so I cannot take on new actions this week."
• "Please send any follow-ups to Priya, who is covering."

What should your manager do when you are questioned?

Exactly what mine did: point out that you are on approved leave and explain the status. A manager who defends approved leave builds trust and sets expectations for the stakeholder. If you are questioned directly, it is fine to say calmly that you are on leave and your manager or cover will follow up.

How do you avoid being called in the first place?

Leave a clear handover, including status, open items and who covers what. Most calls to people on leave happen because nobody else knows the answer. A good handover note makes you unnecessary for a week, which is the goal.

Should you thank your manager for backing you?

Yes, briefly, when you return. It reinforces the behaviour and strengthens the relationship. Managers rarely hear when they have handled something well.

Keep reading

• Unannounced Early Calls: Why Joining Late Backfires
• Assigned Overnight With a Call in 30 Minutes: What to Do
• Using Your Manager to Unblock a Stalled Request

Updated September 2026: in 2019 an offshore delivery lead reviewed my slides line by line, questioned the purpose of each one, and asked me to check with every team member. I have rewritten it into advice for getting through a detailed deck review.

My review with the offshore delivery contact had gone smoothly. The call with the offshore lead started well too, with no comments on the first two standard slides. Then he went through each remaining slide line by line, asked the purpose of every one, and told me to check details with all my team members.

Why do some reviewers go line by line?

Because they will be accountable for the content, they do not yet trust it, or they are trying to understand it for the first time. A line-by-line review is tiring, but it often reflects anxiety rather than hostility.

How do you prepare for a detailed review?

• Know the purpose of each slide in one sentence.
• Know the source of every figure and claim.
• Mark assumptions clearly on the slides.
• Send the deck in advance with a short note on the storyline.

How should you answer questions about purpose?

Link each slide to the client's requirement: "This slide answers question 7 in the RFP on support model." That frames the slide as a response, not an opinion, and it is hard to argue with.

What if you are asked to check with the whole team?

Ask what specifically needs checking and with whom. "Check with everyone" is vague; "confirm the support hours with the service desk lead" is actionable. Narrowing the request saves time and gets a better answer.

How do you keep the review from taking all day?

Agree the time at the start, and prioritise the slides that matter most. Offer to take minor wording comments in writing afterwards. Most reviewers accept this once they have seen the important slides.

What should happen after the review?

Send a list of the changes agreed and the dates, and ask the reviewer to confirm. A reviewer who sees their comments tracked and applied usually becomes less exacting next time.

Keep reading

• Handling Daily Iterative Changes on a Deck Alone
• Assigned Overnight With a Call in 30 Minutes: What to Do
• Pre-Kickoff Work: When It Helps and When It Wastes Time

Updated September 2026: in 2019 I was left alone with a demanding delivery contact, with no offshore support, and small requests grew into daily changes to every slide and the structure itself. I have rewritten it into advice on handling daily iterative changes when you are working alone.

The offshore delivery lead had made it clear there would be no support from his side. The first requests were to add a few slides. Soon every slide was being changed, and then the structure. Using my repository and experience, I finished each day's changes by evening, hoping that would be the last round. The next morning brought more.

Why do iterations never seem to end?

Because each reviewer sees new possibilities once they read a draft, and nothing stops them from asking. Without an agreed number of review rounds or a content freeze, iterations continue until the deadline forces a stop.

How do you bring iterations under control?

• Batch changes: collect requests during the day and apply them once, in the evening.
• Confirm the structure first: agree the storyline before polishing individual slides.
• Set a freeze date after which only corrections are accepted.
• Log every change with the requester and date.

What if you have no support?

Make the workload visible. Share the change log with your manager after a few days: how many changes, how many hours. Ask for either help or a limit on rounds. Working alone is sometimes unavoidable, but it should be a known decision, not an accident.

How do you keep quality up under constant change?

Keep versions. Save each day's deck with a date, so you can go back when a change is reversed, which it often is. Use a template so formatting stays consistent however much content changes.

Should you push back on structural changes late on?

Yes, politely. Structural changes near the end create the most work and the most risk of errors. Ask whether the change is needed for the client or just a preference, and point out what it will delay.

What does finishing each day's changes achieve?

It builds a reputation for reliability. But it can also teach the requester that there is no cost to asking. Pair responsiveness with a visible log, so the effort is recognised.

Keep reading

• Getting Through a Line-by-Line Deck Review
• Using Your Manager to Unblock a Stalled Request
• Assigned Overnight With a Call in 30 Minutes: What to Do

Updated September 2026: in 2019 I shared decks a delivery team asked for, confirmed they were what was needed, and went home. The next morning the account lead called: my manager had assigned me to the opportunity overnight, and a call started in thirty minutes. I have rewritten it into advice on joining an opportunity mid-stream at short notice.

I had closed the loop with the delivery team and forwarded the thread to my manager. An hour later he called to check I had shared the deck. The next morning, before I had settled in, the account lead phoned: I was now on the opportunity, and I was expected on a call in half an hour. It was my first time working with them.

What should you do in the thirty minutes before the call?

• Read the latest email thread, newest first, for the current status.
• Open the most recent deck and skim the storyline.
• Ask the account lead one question: "What do you need from me on this call?"
• Note three things you do not know yet, to ask after the call.

How do you behave on a call when you have just joined?

Introduce yourself briefly, say you have just been added, and listen. Take notes on decisions and actions. Do not commit to dates until you understand the scope. Most teams expect a new joiner to listen on the first call.

What should you ask for after the call?

A short handover: the client's requirements, the deliverables, deadlines, who approves what, and what has already been tried. If nobody offers one, ask the account lead for fifteen minutes. It saves hours of reading old emails.

How do you confirm your role?

Write to your manager and the account lead with what you understood: your role, your deliverables and dates. Being assigned overnight often means the details were never discussed, and a written summary prevents confusion.

What if you are already busy?

Say so on the same day, to your manager, with what you are working on. An overnight assignment does not remove your other commitments; someone needs to decide which comes first.

Does sharing a deck make you the owner?

It can, as I found. Sharing material helpfully often signals that you know the subject, and managers act on that. It is still good to share; just be ready for the follow-up.

Keep reading

• Joining a Work Call From Leave on Your Own Terms
• Unannounced Early Calls: Why Joining Late Backfires
• Getting Through a Line-by-Line Deck Review