June 08, 2005

This is stupid

The department head told me that she was desperate to do the right thing. She told me she couldn't wait for my project to get steaming along, for the money to be allocated to implementing WonderProduct to her region. She needed it now.

I told her that I heard her. I could feel her pain. I would do whatever I could to move along approvals as quickly as possible.

She said that wasn't good enough. Why were there so many layers of red tape between us and doing the right thing? She said there was no reason to wait.

I told her I heard her. And I would do what I could to help.

Then yesterday, her boss told my boss that she'd gone ahead and planned the work and kicked it off using her own people - but charging to my budget. And were we all sympatico with this?

My boss and I thunk that one for a while.

Then my boss talked to her boss again - but they didn't agree on anything other than the fact that everyone wants to get along with everyone and no one should be charging anything without permission.

Then my boss told me to go fix things.

So I got my hands on her project plan and looked it over. Then I called her.

"DepartmentHead," I said. "The plan looks good. The work looks good. What you've done so far is solid."

"And?" She replied, dripping with defensiveness.

"And? Don't do it again."

"You have no right to say that!" she shouted, having come ready for a showdown. "I'm like your customer!"

"Absolutely. And if this was a construction site, I'd have security escort you off the premises. I'm the PM here, and my budget is tied to tasks in my plan. Those costs you incurred against my budget will be reapplied and taken out of your operating overhead."

Howdy, can that woman shout.

"You went off the reservation," I said quietly. "Don't do it again. And meantime, I will continue to work this is hard as I can so your team gets WonderProduct first in line."

"This is stupid," she huffed.

"Yeah," I agreed. "It is."

We were quiet for a long time.

"Thanks," she said.

"No problem."

Posted by Elizabeth at 06:18 PM | Comments (2)

Wow. So professional and polished. You are one damn good business woman, E! Way to go!!!!

Now, take this business savvy and apply it to your personal life. You'll be amazed at how successful it will become!

(My dad changed my life when I was just out of college. He said to me, "Fred, you are really successful in business. You know what to do, and you do it. Well. But in your personal life, you can't seem to get it together. Why is that? You have all the right stuff." That was a HUGE light-bulb moment for me. It changed my life).

Posted by Eyes for Lies.

She did NOT try to book to your budget. [snarling] NO ONE books to MY budget. Well...that's how it was when I was working. Good for you to stay calm and let her know plainly how it'll be from now on.

Posted by Grace.