Fact #1 : Clients can be really good when you really make things happen for them!
Two days ago, I was extremely happy and feeling great because one of my biggest client run to my desk and ask me.
"Hey KokMing, how many resources you are under?".
My response was like 3 seconds pause and I ask "Labor or tools? Why?".
He reply "Labor. How many people you need?".
Without a second thought, my answer shot out from my mouth "2".
He smile at me and say "I will ask that for you.". After that, he straight away walk into the General Manager's room and I yelled "Thank you!"...
Perhaps this is not a very interesting conversation but I feel so good.
Have your client ever taking their own initiative to help you request for resources? This is definitely never happen on me during my previous careers.
Besides that, he is the one who brought my team to KAMPACHI @ PAVILION
Honestly, he impressed me very much. He do rewards and takes the initiative to solve my problem as I solved his problems! I like this management style and I respect him very much.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Fact #2: Boss can be really n00b. He doesn't know who is working for him.
Let's read my blog disclaimer before you proceed.
I have a chat with my Australian boss this afternoon. He asked me how's my team doing. This is the 3rd time he ask me the same question for 2 days. I just don't know how to answer. Obviously, he should know how my team doing via the reports I submitted to him. I don't know what he trying to "hint" or which direction he wanted to lead me into...
So my answer is somewhat silly. "They are doing good but depends..."
Hey! What I can answer? He knows one of my team member is leaving the team. Soon I will have 3 people work for 7 peoples load!
Every one knows my team is currently under intense pressure. Yet, he still ask me why I let so much of pressure went through the developers (team member).
Ok... Put aside my negative comments. Let's see what he had done to "re-assure" me.
He gave a few advices to me.
1. When a worker cannot do the work as you ask them to do. Perhaps you don't keep asking them to do that but assign another job to him/her.
Brilliant suggestion. I agreed. Simply because assigning an important task to the wrong person is going to fail yourself miserably.
I did reassign another job to the "incompetent" worker but he/she still failed me. Should I ask for a new project so I can train/coach him/her up?
Question... Since I am running low on resources. If I can apply the above approach then what about the existing tasks which he never enlighten me how to settle it with nobody... Seriously. I liked this kind of idea which looks inspiring but empty!
2. If you are a good leader, you should know how to manage pressure. But why your members are under pressure and leaving?
Ok. I remain silent for this. I admit I am not a good leader but the one who speak this sentence is nothing better than me too. To be honest, IF you do not pass any pressure to me. How on earth I can generate or create any pressure out of no where? When you point a finger to someone, there is always more fingers pointing back to yourself.
3. When your team is at full capacity / fully occupied. All you do is to tell the client that they have to wait or go away.
Yeah! That's the way. Perhaps in Australia, this is the real way to do the business but in Malaysia, thing goes the other way round. If you do that, I can "guarantee" you that your business is not going to look good.
Back to the actual scenario, if I have ever reject or decline any request from my biggest client. Do you think I will still own a seat within the company? Perhaps I failed in term of project/team management but I do not feel ashamed because I did my best. It is better than the others who is unwilling to take up the challenge and run away, right?
4. I don't expect your team to be 3 members only. We are targeting to expand this division to house 100 people. By that time, you will have professional like Business Analyst, Project Manager and etc to face the client for you. Blah blah blah... ....
An impressive business expansion and planning. But he never mention when I will get extra headcount to do the existing tasks. Furthermore, he promise nothing.
The discussion with him last 30 minutes. Basically, he just keep asking me "Any question?" since the 5th minutes. The rest of 25 minutes spent to answer my questions without a clear direction... This "re-assure" me on how much I can rely on him ... I do not mean I am unhappy but again, I need a reliable boss to back me up while I am facing the troubles and problems only!
If I am suppose to care about my team, then he is suppose to care about me... To be honest, I feel NO care at all. Case closed. Full stop. Good night!