Re: sad tale - response

[John Posada <posada -at- FAXSAV -dot- COM>]

Sorry, but sometimes you need to use the 2X4 approach.



"Dear <SME>: As much as we may both dislike the current situation, I've
been instructed by <our boss> to address this document. You may dislike the
situation you're in and I may have an opinion about how you were treated
during the initial creation of the document, but that doesn't change the
fact that I need to address this document and I have a limited amount of
time to do it in.

Therefore, if I am not able to count on your complete support, I'll have no
recourse but to document the document's problems, my efforts to resolve
them, and my inability to get your cooperation in the matter.

I need to address this matter within the next 48 hours in one way or
another. Please see me before Wednesday 11am to let me know how you would
like to proceeded in this matter or I will have no recourse but to pursue
other solutions"

Thanks"


Just because someone else wants to play games doesn't mean that you have to
participate. On noon on Wednesday, send your boss this memo and cc the
person.

John Posada



-----Original Message-----
From:   Miki Magyar [SMTP:MDM0857 -at- MCDATA -dot- COM]
Sent:   Monday, April 27, 1998 3:19 PM
To:     TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject:        sad tale - response

Matthew Bin told us of his trials with a disgruntled ex-employee SME and
his attempts to improve the user doc, "which, when it is written in
understandable English,
is full of speculations, excuses, and snarkiness."

Matthew, my heartfelt sympathies. You may have hit a brick wall, but
there's one thing you might try that's worked for me. First, you must
realize you will never change this bloke's view of the world, you, or his
work. So don't try. Instead, put yourself on his side - "It's a real pain,
but I've been ordered to do this, so we might as well get it over with.
Here's the stuff they told me to put in..."  hand him a list of specific
questions or blanks to fill in, with your guess as to what it should be.
 Grumble a lot about the unfairness of it all as you prod him to give you
data. Make it clear that *something* has to go in there, and it's either
going to be his input or your best guess. But don't criticize his work or
point out its flaws. Instead, indicate that you are confused (implication
is you're too dumb to understand). List the two or three possible
interpretations of his garble and ask which is correct.

This may not work, but it's worth a try. You may find that having a mutual
'foe' ('them') is enough to allow him to actually communicate with you.

Good luck!

Miki
mikim -at- mcdata -dot- com














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