Tuesday January 29, 2008
Up with the lark this morning to put out trash and to take Graham over to the holiday camp for a meeting with his employers. I waited in the caravan, dozing away to Shakespeare in Love. We’d planned to go on to Taunton for coffee and lunch but, when he’d finished, he was about done in and wanted nothing more than to come home.
It was one of those un-minuted meetings I used heartily to despise and, so soon as I became senior enough, to refuse. With no written record and a two-on-one structure, the one in the minority can be claimed to have agreed to anything. Graham wasn’t sure what he’d agreed to.
“I’ll tell you what I used to do in these circumstances,” I said. “If it’s any use to you?”
“Go on, then.”
“I used to write a short Memorandum of Understanding to all attendees, opening with the statement: ‘This is my understanding of what was agreed at our meeting today. Please let me know in writing if you wish to add anything to the record.’ Always worked for me.”
There was a slight pause. Then: “You know those marbles you’re always looking for because you think they’ve gone missing?”
“Yeah?”
“They haven’t.”
The author, webmaster, and minder of the cat
16 responses so far ↓
Shirley, in PA // January 29, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I’m first? How about that. John, your idea is a clever way to (a) cover your ass, and (b) put the others on the spot. That way they can’t come back and turn things around.
Bozoette Mary // January 29, 2008 at 7:45 pm
That always works for me too! Nowadays it’s an email, but it’s still in writing.
Becky // January 29, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Yep, definitely a good idea, and I agree that your marbles are in place.
Vol-au-Vent // January 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm
John, that’s thoroughly helpful and clever advice. Wish I would have used it before when I needed it!!!! No, you definitely haven’t lost them…
Tim Reed // January 29, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I do the same thing for meetings without minutes being taken. That way there is no misunderstanding. I send it by email with receipt acknowledged.
Gordo // January 29, 2008 at 8:27 pm
That’s an amazing strategy, John! You’re a genius.
bonnie // January 29, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Ah how nice to find the marbles still about.
Mine are in a jar on the shelf in the hall. lol
dara // January 29, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I can only find one marble for me and I keep it in the change part of my wallet as proof that I haven’t totally lost all of them.
Mary Lee // January 29, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Ooh, ever so Amen! to all of the above. Sheer genius, John. Quite obviously, one would never have gone to bed at all, to get up ahead of you! Bravo! with double cluster.
Jim // January 29, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Excellent idea, John, absolutely.
I used to do the same thing back in my IT days… as soon as I got back to my office after a meeting with a user department I wrote up a memo (and thank goodness for whoever thought of return-receipt acknowledgements on e-mail!) that said “Thank you for your contributions to today’s productive meeting. My understanding of the changes you have requested to the manufacturing report system are:” followed by a detailed bulleted listing. That saved many a headache later on if they claimed that they had asked for something different.
Uh yes, I did learn about the need to document such things the hard way. (Ah, but those are the lessons that stick with us.)
K8 // January 29, 2008 at 10:09 pm
That “tag teaming” tactic by management is ugly, isn’t it? The getting it in writing defense is always the best one — good on you for knowing that!
Wendy, NC // January 29, 2008 at 10:42 pm
John, lo those many years from now when it’s time for your funeral, I’m confident that if there’s any glitch, the executive in you will sit up in your coffin, issue the instruction for the resolution, give a nod and an “all right then, carry on,” lie back down and expect it to be done.
gary // January 29, 2008 at 11:54 pm
You’re a pretty smart dude John that’s for sure. Of course, the expression that works soetimes is ‘age and treachery always trumps youth and beauty’.
Monique // January 30, 2008 at 2:59 am
I used this when my sons were in school and I had to deal with bureaucrats who, after a meeting would say they’d never agreed to what I knew they had agreed to do. It works very well for keeping people accountable! Good job! And I’m ever so glad my sons are all grown now and I no longer have to deal with those folks!
~ Sil in Corea // January 30, 2008 at 4:10 pm
You’re sharper ‘n a tack, Mr. Bailey! That ought to keep those “managers” honest. I never did think much of them, the way they took advantage of Graham’s work ethic.
Satalya // January 30, 2008 at 11:46 pm
What a sweet compliment! Bet you’ve beamed all day. I would have!
Hugs from Hamburg, Satalya
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