Re: Vendor Contact for Contest (fwd)

["Karen Randall" <krandall@world.std.com>]

Erik wrote:
> Another thing I didn't mention in the mail last night was that I e-mailed
> James a reply to his mail and said that if he talks to Charlene on the
> *phone*, he will most likely get the answers he's looking for; if he keeps
> e-mailing, he won't (just the way Charlene works).  I suggested he write
> all the questions down like a script, pick up the phone, and call her, and
> then make sure to ask every question and wait for an answer.
>
> So the only bummer about you calling Charlene is that it triangles once
> again, and James gets away without having to actually confront his
> aversary (and fears) directly.  Do I sound like a parent or what?
> ("Would you like me to dial the number for you?")

Well, I'll hold off talking to Charlene until we make this decision, and we
see if James says yes. (assuming that is the end decision)  But for James to
be effective in this position, he NEEDS to learn how to deal with people
with different personality types, PARTICULARY someone who is as hard a
worker as Charlene has been.  (the reverse is also true, but Charlene's job
is less global than what we are discussing for James)

I know you are right, that Charlene doesn't like long e-mails, and doesn't
respond to them well.  And I have to say that James' e-mail profusion can be
overwhelming to anyone at times.  That's how he scared half the people off
the contest list the first year.  He's going to have to learn to use the
phone with the people where that's more appropriate. (remind him that he can
send the bill for those calls to David for reimbursement if that's an issue)

I suspect that if we put James in a position where he feels ownership for
all-things AGA, as opposed to just his contest "bone" he will will become as
rabidly loyal and supportive of ALL AGA projects and functions.  He WILL
tire us out, I'm sure.  But he'll also get the job done.  At the same time,
I am fairly sure that Charlene will gladly relenquish control of a part of
the convention planning that she really didn't like anyway.

We just need to handle them both right, which means Erik setting the tone
with James, and me setting the tone with Charlene.  I'm quite sure that this
sort of competitive feeling between them was caused mostly by them not
getting a chance to work WITH each other from the very beginning.  I think
we can get them pulling together with a nudge in the right direction.  And
as annoying as it is to have to help "dialing the phone", I think the
situation requires that support, at least initially.

Karen

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