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7:12:00 AM EDT
When Its Too Good To Be True
The interview with the realtor was in a word "painful". It was obvious she was not experienced and was unable to answer our questions. Much later in the day, I get a call from my sister and BIL. They advised they check with some offfice and found out there were several building restrictions to the lot. They are not sure the house plan we selected will fit the lot. Ugh. So, now I 'm going to have to scramble and try and get out of this contract. I will know today. Lessons learned, my sister said next time she will go to the table with us and also we'll check first to see about building restrictions before we even contact a realtor.
My other sister called me right at about 5 pm last night and thank goodness because I had lost track of time, so I packed up and walked out the door with a whole lot of stuff still needing to be done. I am troubled by the team members. I know one of them had a really challenging year and he felt betrayed by management. He used to be a productive and good worker. When I first arrived, I could tell he was lost and depressed. I'd see him sitting just staring at his computer screen. We had a talk and I shared from my perspective and that he needed to do whatever it takes to get by his situation. If he chooses to go elsewhere, I'd like him to go out the door having a cleaned up tracked record. He went and talked with our Supervisor and got how he felt about things off his chest. I could tell he felt better afterwards. Since then, he has been trying but as I shared with him yesterday his work is still suffering from the domino effect of when he wasn't producing because he had basically shut down. I was very blunt and honest with him. This has created issues for him being timely and with having to rush - he makes errors. It also effects me because if he is turning it in late, then I am pressured to review and approve and have to put other stuff aside that I am working or end up working late. Case in point, we were to present a briefing to a customer yesterday, and he asks me 30 minutes before we're to leave to review the briefing slides. He had used the wrong template. So, this created a frenzy of finding the right set and plugging in the information. Fortunately, the briefing went well. On our way back to the office, I shared my observations and did not hold back any punches. I think he got the message, he needs to step it up. He actually thanked me and said he appreciated my being truthful with him. He is going through a module in his class and said too often in offices people are not honest with one another because they don't know how to manage conflict. Then things build up and its a mess. I know he is listening, and is a good guy and he's going to come out of this funk and shine. And I can't wait because he will.
Next up, another team member shows up and announces he'd be off today so was wondering if I would be willing to give a verbal on one of his actions. He advises it needs to be in place by Sunday. Umm, "no." He was surprised. I told him we need to get away from being "reactive" and start being "proactive". This means, he needs to submit his entire package in a timely manner for my review. If the customer is partly to blame for this, then they will suffer. If it is delay on our part, then he will need to explain this to the customer and me. If they don't like it, here's my bosses number.
Then I left. LOL No longer am I going to be the "fall guy" and have to work late because they can't get their act together and turn stuff into me in a timely manner. So there!
They are good workers, but for whatever the reason they've postured themselves into this crisis management instead of proactively attacking their assignments. They also spend way too much time on personal calls. I was moved nearer to them, so I know. Guess that is why I am not feeling too badly about calling them out.
Well speaking of work.......gotta go.
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I hope your able to get out of the contract without too much trouble. As for your co-workers your doing them a huge service by being up front with them. I hope they get the message and do something useful with the advice. (Hugs) Indigo
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))))))I amm sorry things didnt go right with the house.I hpe and pray everything will out.
4/4/08 11:37 PM
Good for you on the work front. I'm not sure I'd be as patient with "Mr. Template." Granted, it sounds like he has issues -- and I hope like you say that he snaps out of them -- but meanwhile it sounds like he has been causing you extra work. As for "Mr. Verbal," way to go. It sounds like he wanted to do a half-baked job and have you cover for him. Maybe this is why you were moved closer to them to begin with!
Sorry to hear about the lot ... but at least you're still getting this info pretty early in the process.
Best,
Marty