The Hamster Revolution by Mike Song

Author:Mike Song
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2007-06-20T16:00:00+00:00

8

HELP! IT’S NOT SO EASY!

Later in the week, Harold pinged me via IM. I was finishing up a meeting with a client.

Harold: Coach, you there?

Info-Coach: Hi. On phone-Give me 2 mins.

Two minutes later…

Info-Coach: Okay, I’m back. Hey – You learned how to IM. Congrats!

Harold: Thanks. I’m waiting for the sales team meeting to start. I didn’t want this conversation to be overheard, so I’m using IM.

Info-Coach: I’m impressed, perfect application for IM. What’s up?

Harold: This is the HR-Sales meeting. Remember, the sales team sends those vague, confusing emails from their PDAs.

Info-Coach: Yes. I remember.

Harold: I’m a bit nervous. I asked for time on the agenda to discuss email and Dave Anderson was pretty skeptical. He cut the agenda time I reserved down to 5 minutes and said, “Email isn’t a problem here.”

Info-Coach: Okay.

Harold: Well, what if they think my presentation is a waste of time?

Info-Coach: A waste of time? 15 days for you and them? More sales + less admin = more life.

Harold: Yeah, Yeah. I get it. I still don’t know how to start. The meeting begins in 3 minutes. They’re filing in already. They look grumpy. Maybe they didn’t hit their sales quota. I think I’m gonna barf.

Info-Coach: Relax and take a deep breath. Focus. First, get them talking.

Harold: Okay, I’m breathing again… oxygen returning to brain. OK, now what?

Info-Coach: Ask them what bugs them most about email.

Harold: That’s it? That’s your big advice? How much am I paying you? Ha, ha.

Info-Coach: Just try it. When they start to vent, explain that you’ve learned a new system that addresses lots of their frustrations. Ask if they’d be interested in seeing it. When they say yes, hand out the 1-2-3 and A-B-C Email Tools. Did you bring them?

Harold: Yes. Okay. Anything else?

Info-Coach: Ask for feedback on your own email first. Show them that you’re willing to listen, learn, and improve.

Harold: Great idea. I hope they catch the spirit.

Info-Coach: They will. You can also send them to the getcontrol.net for more info. There are helpful online exercises, efficiency tips, and…

Harold: That sounds like shameless self-promotion.

Info-Coach: Perhaps, but the site does have lots of helpful and free info.

Harold: Okay. Gotta go. Meeting starting.

Info-Coach: Call me at 2 PM. I’ll keep my phone line open.

Harold: Got it. Out.

Info-Coach: Let them vent. Listen first.

Harold: What part of “Out” don’t you understand? Ha, Ha.

At 2 PM the phone rang. It was Harold and he was excited. “It worked! I got them venting and soon everyone was joining in.”

“Perfect. What did you cover?”

“There were so many concerns raised. It was really amazing. They have more issues with email than I do. Even Dave had some complaints about angry messaging. He loved the 24-Hour Rule.”

“Dave? The guy who almost cut you out of the agenda?”

“Two minutes into the session, everyone was pointing out what frustrated them about email. A couple top sales managers repeatedly mentioned it was reducing face time with clients. Dave loosened up after that.”

“Great. Did you ask them for feedback on your email?”

“Didn’t have to.

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