I presented a workshop session
for a group of 60 people for a client's annual meeting last year. They enjoyed
it so much they invited me back to present on another topic. We had
worked through the details and the agenda was set. In confirmation I was
copied on the note that went out to the attendees and noticed that our final
description was not included - but a copied agenda from a conference I
presented at earlier in the year (though very similar). That posting
mentioned that I would be providing journals to all of the attendees.
Immediately many thoughts started
going through my head. Should I go ahead and provide journals to all of the
attendees and not worry about it even though it wasn't included in the fee?
Did I miss something in the discussions of what was to be provided?
It didn't take me very long to
make a call to the client to discuss the confusion. It was all settled in
seconds - they certainly hadn't expected me to provide the journals.
But I've heard so many other
people in situations where there was a misunderstanding created through e-mail
strings; people in a meeting wondering what a higher level manager was thinking
and trying to figure it out on their own; or they are upset with another person
because of an assumption they hold - and they wrestled with the dilemma without
making a call.
It is a risk to make the call.
But it is also a risk to not take any action.
Make the call. So many
times a majority of the things we worry about never happen.
Remember the Dale Carnegie quote
- " If you have a worry problem, do these three things: 1. Ask
yourself: "What is the worst that can possibly happen?" 2. Prepare to
accept it if you have to. 3. Them calmly proceed to improve on the worst."
