Sticky Situations: To Call or Not to Call

You’ve organized a meeting with a well regarded, difficult to retain, and very expensive design firm.

The meeting starts bright and early and your attendance is critical. It’s your project and you need to kick it off.

You arrive the night before, but your luggage doesn’t.

You’re dressed for flight, reasonably presentable but not what you were planning to wear for a big meeting at a posh office.

What should you do?

1. Show up on time in what you’re wearing
2. Call your contact, inform them of your dilemma, and tell them you’ll be an hour late (allowing you to buy some clothes)
3. Show up late but “properly” dressed

Even if you’re the customer, showing up late without calling communicates disregard for the other people involved. It’s also no way to build a relationship.

In my opinion, if the environment is not conducive to option 1, then 2 is the best choice.

While this might seem like an easy call, it echoes a discussion I had with someone who was leaning toward option 3!

How often do we take action without considering how our actions impact others?

Understanding how decisions impact the people around is core to implementing change.

So let’s put our heads together. Once a week (or so) I’ll publish a scenario that highlights a relationship, management, or leadership dilemma.

I’m putting together a list, so please email me at ann[dot]michael at managetochange[dot]com and tell me about the sticky situations you’ve experienced.

I’ll tell you what I think and you tell me what you think.

Deal?

Comments

[ann michael]

Shh..don't give anyone any ideas!

[April Groves]

Cancelled - ugh! Well, whadya do about that?

It'll be real crazy in our sue happy nation when folks start bringing suits against the airlines for lost contracts...

[ann michael]

You are so right, April, it never pays to be optimistic when dealing with the airlines.

A while back, I started carrying some spares for day trips too (when I wasn't even planning to stay overnight). I was finding that it wasn't uncommon for all of the planes to be canceled - then I'd be stuck!

[April Groves]

**Dittos the Tim Johnson hoopla :)**

Ann - what a great scenario...my first thought was how did ya get into that mess in the first place? I am a complete optimist in most areas. Plane travel is not one of them. There is always a change of clothes in my carry on.

But...to answer your question - I call. If the meeting can happen an hour later, then I grab some new clothes and change...if it can't, I show up early in what I have on. I agree with Eric as I saw "The Pursuit of Happyness" also - sometimes you only get one shot - make it happen.

[ann michael]

I love Tim! I met him in Chicago at SOBCon07. (He's part of the Iowa mafia too ...shhh!)

[Eric Peterson]

Ann,
I'm not, but it sure sounds intriguing so I definitely will be looking into it.

Another Iowan, Timothy Johnson, was my initial inspiration for entering the blogosphere. I have had the pleasure of taking a couple graduate classes from him at Drake University!

[ann michael]

Hi Eric!

Number 1 can definitely work in a lot of places. In my friend's case, it would not have because of the culture and environment she was heading in to. But, I agree with you, if possible, it can be the best choice.

I'm excited you'll be reading and hope to hear from you often.

Thanks for dropping in!
Ann

PS I noticed on your blog that you're from Iowa. Are you part of Mike Sansone's Iowa blogging mafia??? ;-)

[ann michael]

Hi Karin!

I'm glad you're in! You're right, you can't win them all - but at least you can try!

Ann

[Eric Peterson]

Ann,
I'm excited to participate in your weekly scenarios (if you'll have me?)! I'm just becoming acquainted with your blog (and blogging as a whole for that matter), and yours will definitely become one of my daily reads!

As for this scenario, it is tough. I am actually leaning towards option#1 (but of course, I just got done watching "The Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith.

Will's character encounters a similar dilemma and I rather enjoyed how he handled the questions thrown his way about his ragged clothing!

The problem with #1 is that your "resourcefullness" may be called into account! I don't know.....I suppose I need to do some more thinking on this one!

[Karin H.]

Deal ;-)

(Sure this topic will become very 'sticky')

Re communicating 'lateness': we 'surprised' a client once by calling him we would be a bit later due to traffic. How much later he asked. 10 minutes we feared.
"And you call me for that?!?"

(Oh well, can't win them all ;-))

Karin H. (Keep It simple Sweetheart, specially in business)