The follow through...

I have come to terms that most people mean what they say. Confessing their intentions to provide services in business or even as simple as meeting for coffee is all in good will. Before I divulge any further on this topic you'll notice my frustration throughout the blog. So why is it so difficult to follow through? Is this concept slanted because of our own selfishness, and preoccupations? Looking back into time and realizing we are a species of survival and personal interests, you have to wonder. Entertaining the mentality and extending the benefit of doubt in our daily lives is a model I try and live by. Tapping into the importance of communication amongst us leads me to my next point.

Working in communications at the Fire Department and new business owner, the task and duty of effectively broadcasting my message is sometimes misunderstood. Being aware of varying personality traits, emotions, habits, needs, and values create quite the barrier to accomplishing my goal(s). As much of these dynamics affect overall desire, TRUST creates an even thicker barrier. By interacting with those in friendships, business clientele, work, and family, all co-exist in similar ways, and engage through different platforms of trust. Is it rational to believe that this is attainable on all levels?? As trust opens lines of healthy communication, it doesn’t seem to be completely out of reach… all I’m asking is for some form of effort. Whether it’s a text (which now a days is seen as a crutch in my eyes), phone call, e-mail, or a letter for Pete’s sake! Can we take a few moments out of our day to extend this courtesy? Is it too much to ask?

I welcome your thoughts, and appreciate your time.

“Start with good people, lay out the rules, communicate with your employees, motivate them and reward them. If you do all of those things effectively, you can’t miss.” ~ Lee Lacocca

all the best,

Jem

 

I'm not sure that I follow exactly what you are trying to get across, but it seems like you are trying to figure out why people don't do what the say they are going to do, and that you take people at their word. Is that it?

I have found that people say one thing and do another more so than they do what they say. Although that is not a startling and unique revelation, I am sure that everyone has experienced that on both sides of the coin at one time or another.

People take time to do the things they want to do over the things that they should do. And they do this willingly and often. Sad but true. Why this happens, well, each person has their reasons and motivation. Nobody wants to do the hard stuff, we all want the easy and fun things. And that means that things get left un-done and people get left hanging.


That's my take on things. I put off posting this for about 7 hours. It was too easy to do the other, little and fun things first.

 

Corporate business should show the way...the example...The government....43 MILLION phone calls to the UK tax helpline went unanswered last year. And most were discontinued without answer.

Calls to utilities are often messaged and promises of call backs never actioned. British Gas were fined last year for complaints on the issue.

Calls to doctors surgeries until public complaint were charged in uk by most surgeries at a premium rate and then callers directed for minutes around pabx push button system while all the time cost mounted.

How can we show a new generation how to behave when the example they see and meet is one led by government and business departments most will come into contact with on weekly if not daily basis.

 

I can identify with the phone hang-ups. Sometimes I get calls at 0300 with crazy-a$$ nimrods wanting to talk to the governor about something that they partially read in the paper and totally "mis-interpalated" before getting all liquored up and getting their mitts on a phone. Depending on my mood, sometimes I just through in an "uh-huh" and a "you don't say" every so often. Most of the time I handle their call as best as I can, or give them a number to the Governor's office where they can leave a message. Boss has a team of office "pencil necks" whose only function on the team is to return calls from "the people" and to handle "gofer" details. Other times I just put them on hold and go about my business after awhile. This seems to happen more when the moon is full though....

 

What you only go about your business when the moon is full......Just what do you do for a living apart from policing.

 

What I meant was, when I put them on hold after listening to them ramble on for awhile, I do what I normally do at the office when I am not talking to inebriated moon babies. Things like watch monitors, answer the other phone, read the paper, walk the perimeter, surf the net, waste time on ww2f, you know, stuff like that.

 

Ahhh...normal stuff.

 

Yes, normal (inside trooper) stuff.

By the way, it's 28 years on the J.O.B. for me today! Yaaaaah!

 

Dont want to ruin Jems thread so last I'll say.....Sorry Jem...But a58.....we share the same language...we have different meanings...I'm impressed by your stamina and that of your other half...Give her my best regards....Now you aint got a clue...talk about lost in translation...

 

Your right, sorry about wrecking your thread Jem, and yes urqh, I haven't the slightest idea what you are referring to it seems....

 

No harsh feelings gents I appreciate your feedback. Talking with a few friends about it, the consensus seemed clear that you cannot hold people to YOUR expectation. Holding myself to a higher standard, I can only hope for the same in return. For example: You are meeting an aquaintance for coffee... you are there at the specified time. Your partner however is running late... now, what's late? 5mins.. 10mins... and at what point would you call them to tell you are running late? Who's perception is right? The only thing I can do is be as specific as I can, and hope for the best. Setting the example is so important... thank you for reminding us urqh. And Bobby congrats on 28 dedicated years to the force!!

all the best,

Jem

 

".....And Bobby congrats on 28 dedicated years to the force!!"


Amen to that! Way to hang in there, Bobby!

 

Well put Lou. When I grew up there was no "clock" to watch for the most part. Going to school was the only "time dictated" function I had to adapt to. I was "scheduled" by the sun's rising and setting.

That got so ingrained in me that even today, the first rays of morning don't generally catch me 'abed. I wake up ahead of the sun, no matter when it rises for some reason. This made my adopting a "shift" at Research-Cottrell as a fitter difficult to adjust to for about three months. But I was young enough to pull it off.

When I started driving OTR for someone else I had to get back in the habit of "watching the clock" for various reasons. When it comes to personal meetings and such I always try to be on or slightly ahead of time, this is just a personal trait much like your own.

I have however, over the years found that a great many people tend to take the path of least resistance like water or electricity. If you don't make a complaint to them about their tardiness, they will take advantage of you for their own gain. I too tend to cut friends some "slack" in this regard, but when it comes to business or professional meetings, tardiness shouldn't be an acceptable option and there should be consequences for it.

There were when I was driving. If I was late for a pickup or delivery of my load, I would be penalized by my own company. There was a six cent a mile bonus for each of six different sections of your delivery/pickup. Tardiness (both ends), damaged goods, lost goods, ect. Miss one of the "points" and you lost the whole six cents, not just a single cent. This made "being on time" a monetary rather than simply pride issue. Worked for me, pissed other drivers off.

 

What Lou said!

 

Well Jem, i'm not really sure who this is refering to or what it's exactly about.. it seems to ba a "to whom this may concern" type of message. All i know is that you seem upset so I like to cheer you up with a little advice from George




I think that's good advice to live by... it worked for Bush!


Anyway, hope things work out for you..



Suzie

 

I appreciate the congrats on the 28 years on the job guys, I really do. Now all I have to hang on for 16 more months and stop wrecking Jem's interesting thread!

 

If its timekeeping anyone needs to learn today....A few years in services will soon sort out any punctuality problems folk may have....Sorry I'm late sergeant....Cat was stuck in gate....Thats ok son..it happens...Yeah that conversation would happen too....Yeah right.

 

I suspect the sergeant would be equally unimpressed if you 'followed through'...

 

The English language...Int it great....Trying to point out to our cousins across the sea in another thread....Being on the job for 28 years is an impressive achievement....Just like following through....Doesnt quite translate across the pond...Which is why its sometimes grteat to hace a conversation in a naafi with a yank...