James was beginning to enjoy his day now, strange as it was. However it looked like taking a distinct turn for the worst when he met the Claims Director, Adam Michael, at the coffee machine. Adam was the business manager in charge of a major project that had just gone off the rails – late, over budget and no prospect of delivery.“Ah, James, I’ve been looking for you” Adam began in hushed tones, James put on his defensive hat,
“I wanted to have a quiet word with you about the project. As you know I am the business owner for the project, and, no matter what the cause of the problems, as owner I am taking full and total responsibility for the problems, and resolving them.”James looked at him in silence. Adam walked away as he uttered the last words:
“There is no point being accountable for something and not owning up when it goes wrong, is there?”
Clare from Bournemouth asks:
You say that people make their minds up about others in the first three seconds - when I meet someone new, what is the best thing to do in those three seconds?
Shake their hand - mirroring the grip they are using - not firmer or softer, make eye contact for just over one second (it will seem like an eternity) and smile - think of a happy moment in your life and you will smile, automatically.
Or, if you don't agree with me, shake someone's hand like a limp fish, look at the ground and burst into tears - your choice - I don't mind.
e-mail me at david@nakedleader.com or post a comment with any question