Discussion on:

How friendly are you with clients?

I became famous for "Back in the USSR". Nuff said.

I don't know if it's a gender issue or what. Women, including me, get comments that we are standoffish and not friendly when we don't make a point to be best friends forever with our clients. That is friendly, courteous and professional but not overly familiar.

Anyone who isn't a company employee is essentially independent business people providing a service to our clients. Not everyone seems to be clear on that concept.

Personal relationships happen organically, not automatically just because people work together. Maturity and professionalism should allow people to still get the job done.

Don't worry. There will be no romantic entanglements between you and me. I am ugly, but your photo shows that you are uglier than I am ugly.

That's probably the first time I've ever been grateful for being called ugly.

I was so damned ugly I was cute! Ex girl friend. Wife just says I ain't bad looking for an old guy

I've always tried to keep the romance out of work, but I've been close enough to clients that one of them named a baby after me.

It just depends on the client. Some I like, some I wouldn't invite to someone else's house.

I try to keep all my clients on a comfortable, friendly distance. Sometimes I will join them for lunch if I think it will help me to get more information and they need to take a break. Never, ever outside of work through. I want them to be comfortable with my presence and free to talk about their computer problems at what ever level of understanding they can. I also need to understand at which level I can converse with them. Many service people treat the customer as the enemy and this just creates friction that can lead to misunderstanding the real problem.

We are usually the client. We had one of our people who was new to IT who thought that the vendor was a personal friend.

So, she wouldn't turn in problems, and wouldn't address this person's general lack of knowledge. It took someone else (me) stepping in to address the issues, and get the problems fixed. She learned a hard lesson as she is no longer with our organization, or even in IT.

The client represents the interests of this organization, we are not friends with the vendors, because they represent the interests of their organization, and many times, the interests of each party are completely opposite of one another. For example, a discussion where we believe that the contract states that we will be provided a service at no cost, but the other party believes that it states the exact opposite. You can't be "friends" and have that discussion.

If you're too friendly, you are not looking out for the interests of your organization, or yourself.

you have to be able to apply the same degree of separation when it comes to business decisions. The closer, the more difficult. But it can be done.

of course you can and people do it every day of the week ... what you can't do is pretend the issue doesn't exist because you are friends

... and a lot of times a client who is also a "friend" will expect that you'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Not that they would return the favor.

exactly ... and there are some friends you can do without; my bottom line is you have to keep in mind which clients, if any, are REALLY friends and which ones are just people who you get along with pretty well and like ... because a real friend I might indeed give the benefit of the doubt to ... in the end, it's all a matter of being pragmatic and doing what's in your long-term interest and hope that aligns with the client's interest

working lunches are ok but you'll do a lot better if you DON'T talk about computers when you go out with clients ... let me give you one specific hint: people with children LOVE to talk about their children (mothers AND fathers) ... let them tell you ALL about Tammy's A+ grades and Jason's future in professional sports or medicine and you'll get more business

I have good relationships with all my stores, but there is no little or no interaction outside the store.

In my case, the primary reason is most likely that we simply move in different circles.

And you're probably third ugliest.

I don't have much of a relationship with clients outside of the Business premises.

I don't go the Christmas Parties or similar mainly because I don't have the free time available. But I do do a lot of the staffs computers for free or at cost to keep them happy and this I see as just a part of the business that I'm in. Good Will has never hurt anyone.

I bet I'm uglier that the rest of you lot put together.

Col

To Toni Bowers as counterpoint to her piece about appearance.

You could be featured.

I have used this picture previously.

To what I taught my beautiful little girl in how to look bad-ass ugly. Talk that way, too. Beautiful little girls need to learn those things. And you're a guy. What's your excuse?

I had been in hospital for 7 days.

They had washed the worst of the Ugly away.

Col

We'll put you down as fourth; probationary fourth. Only, though, if you, er, improve.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-12851-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=307816&messageID=3064086

... was butt-ugly. Now that they've removed that, I may change my profile picture back to my better shot: http://chipstips.com/images/Chip3.jpg

Just look at that face!

I noticed your new head shot and wanted to compliment you on it... much better. But we all know its not about what you look like but how much you make us all laugh!

... that I don't need to keep you with my looks! But thanks!

You forgot JD.

Is what I said.

That said, "ugly" includes malformed observation. Your place is secure.

.

Second-class.

The first has yet to weigh in as to what is happening to his effort.

At the top of the list. OK then I'm happy to be way down the bottom.

After all I don't want or need to associate with Show Tune Lovers as I don't want people getting the wrong idea about me and thinking that I have a Limp Wrist.

HAL 9000 the Pretty one who likes to be around Young Women.

Col

And predilections are noted.

When the presidium confers, you may or may not be noticed.

Now go and search for some PlyCraft Rods so you can weld up some Ply Wood that I'm sending you.

I've run out and the suppliers here have told me that you brought out all their stocks, to go with the Crankcase Sawdust and square drills to make square holes. I just hope that you get a lot of Apprentices sent to you to get a Long Wait.

Col

You will have to be killed.

Then you will be the one killed first.

But just in case you think you never go near an Airlock door you need to remember that Lift Doors in High Rise Buildings are also controlled by the HAL 9000 Series of systems. Not to mention Traffic Control Devices and that billing system for your Electricity and Phones so I may just have to bankrupt you so that when you die it looks like the final act of desperation.

Actually any Automated Device is controlled by me.

Be Afraid Very Afraid.

Col

The banks and the government are already ahead of you for one of those Hal9000.

It's just a matter of time ... and safety nets.....

They are standing in line for a smaller Version of Skynet so that they can try to do as they please they all currently think that the HAL 9000 units are way to dangerous to have around because they Think for Themselves and no Government or Business wants to have something smarter than them around. They all want something that will do as it is told.

Col

the days of the 'dedicated playground' are over.

Can you explain?

The ones I've been working with the longest enjoy (?) a closer relationship, while I pay attention to maintaining the right distance with newer clients.

This ########################### Computer is driving me nuts I'm going to park an Excavator on it.

At one place I had one of the staff do that to get a new workstation and now every time there is a problem that is the threat that I hear. Unfortunately if I'm not there fast that is exactly what Happens.

OK great for new sales as I supply all their needs but I find it counterproductive when it should have been an easy fix. Luckily they are fairly close by not more than a 25 minute drive away and they are always good for a laugh even if they have the Most Expensive I Pod on the Face of the planet. It's the only place that I'm paid to play with an I Pod.

Col

Sunds like fun, though you can't program the things, can you?

I get to spend hours with the I Tunes App fixing up the mess that he makes.

I found the Library saved to 25 different locations on the HDD once. I was called in because a New NB had no room left on the HDD that only had about 20 GIG's used when I supplied it a week or two previously. Somehow it had burned up the other 230 GIG in a very short time. 25 Entries of a 20 GIG Folder for some strange reason takes up a lot of HDD space.

Prior to that I used to just tell him to fix up his owe programs but it took hours to sort out what I could safely delete and what had to stay put. I think on that occasion I deleted the entire Play Library and rebuilt it from scratch.

Then there was the Garman GPS which he insisted didn't work with a Europe Map Installed because it would only give him a distance to Madrid and no directions on how to drive there from AU. In the end I had to sit him in his car and ask him which way he thought he needed to head to get there.

Earthmover's are not a group to upset at all. But you know exactly where you stand with them all of the time and there is defiantly no Politics played but you may find yourself lying down and getting some sleep unexpectedly. Particularly when you tell them that No that isn't possible with something that they really want to do. That crowd isn't used to being told that they Can Not do something.

I hadn't touched either an I Pod or I Tunes prior to this one job so it was defiantly a Learning Experience. I just wish that he wasn't trying to fill up an 80 Gig I Pod with songs to listen to.

Col

I run into a whole lot of those people; the ones not used to being told they Can Not do something.

I gravitate to them. The others, they are no challenge.

I tend to be as friendly as possible, without moving into the category of close or intimate friends.

I try to be perceived as, "Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent." (The old Boy Scout motto for those who do not know.)

The idea in my mind is to foster trust and a good working relationship. But at the same time I WANT to maintain a certain distance between us. Or, perhaps, that latter statement would be better illustrated by my saying that I want it understood that there are lines I will not cross.

Notice the included trait of "loyalty" in that motto, above?

I am first and foremost loyal to the company for whom I work. When that is no longer the case, I'll resign. Secondly I am loyal to the paying customer. That means whomever signed the contract and who then later signs the check when the contract is satisfactorily completed.

In my line of business, one of the issues that frequently comes up is that various members of the customer organization, not the contract manager/signer, come to see me as extremely helpful, friendly, etc. And then tend to want some special consideration, a little bending of the rules/terms of the contract, some "freebie" service or advice, or whatever.

Remember my Rule #1? Loyalty to my employer? And Rule #2, loyalty to the individual or group within the customer organization who signed the contract I'm working under?

Any request or asked for favor that would violate Rule #1 or Rule #2, gets a "No" answer. It is a lot easier to give a "No" answer, and for the recipient of said answer to accept it without getting all out of sorts, if the relationship is not too close and personal.

As concerns getting into personal, more intimate relationships with customers or their employees. As we used to say when I was in the Navy, "Not on my watch." Meaning, it ain't gonna happen.

Morality aside, it seems to be to be a bad idea on any number of levels. If I were available, and I'm not, its a big world with lots and lots of available ladies who might interest me (And I'm easily pleased ... basic requirements being FEMALE, warm and still breathing, willing and friendly, not so ugly as to scare me if I pass her in dark alley, and she shares at least some of my interests. Oh, and she doesn't find me totally repulsive. I'm far uglier than the rest of you pikers and pretenders. With the charming and interesting personality ... of the average rock.)

Even as ugly and undesirable as I am, I still have to duck "invitations" to get better acquainted by some gals. There have just got to be some "desperate" ladies out there, IMHO, if even some show interest in me. Some of you eligible bachelors MUST be falling down on the job.

Either that, and more often likely the case, the lady in question wants something. That special consideration or favor.

All of which is not to say that I won't have lunch with a customer. I even go to some customer events. i.e. Not long ago I attended an after-hours party celebrating the retirement of a fellow who I'd worked with within a customer organization for many years.

I have, occasionally, "let my hair down" so to speak, with certain carefully selected customers. But that is seldom, and the person's concerned few. Only happens after we've known each other for considerable time, and I've come to know that the other person understands the difference between professional and personal relationships. i.e. The person knows and understands that while today (or tonight) we may be partying hardy and acting silly like long, long time close friends, tomorrow ... if the situation demands ... I won't hesitate to say "No" in a business decision.

They may take all the advandages since you are IT admin.Thus will create such a dificulties for us.


From my realtime exp.I learnt that be careful when you
facing such a situation just do your work promptly all
they want only the resource from you.

A good in-house sense of humor for fun makes for a great client relationship. And when we screw up, it is important to laugh at ourselves as well.

One morning I solved a hellish problem for staff and put every single cartoon about "I hate my computer" I could find on different desktops. They loved it.

If your client has a wonderful sense of humor and can tolerate rough language, let me recommend Foamy the Squirrel at illwillpress.com. Look for toons and view his first encounter with Tech Suppport.

I was talking with the owner of a medical practice one day and casually mentioned I purchased a DVD at a computer show that had CRUSADER RABBIT on it - HE LIT UP!!! So, he got the DVD.