Monday, January 26, 2009

If a tree falls in the forest . . .

Similarly, if a proposal center staff has mandatory team building (an oxymoron if I’ve ever seen one, moron being the operative letters), but not everyone who impacts that staff’s productivity participates in the session, what results can be hoped for? Not much, if anything; just increased frustration and anger.

In brief, our problems relate to one simple, but powerful dynamic. We have a process and procedures for workflow, but everyone who submits work to us effectively ignores our "rules" and, importantly, is outside of our “jurisdiction.”

We have no control whatsoever over proposal managers and writers (almost all of whom are contractors), nor can we dictate anything to a host of VPs who review, edit, and sign off on proposals. Thus, our system carries little if any weight beyond our offices.

Without the buy-in of those principals, our Feb. 6 team building session will be like a flight whose passengers all want to have lunch in Paris but the pilot sets his bearings for Boston.

Speaking of lunch, our hapless, moronic manager—who set up the session—promises a good one halfway through the proceedings.