Business Diplomacy

[MadImmortalMan]

This is sort of a what-would-you-do-if-you-were-me thread. Here's the situation:


Two of my bosses, A+B, have been very desirous of my going to visit a certain head of another organization, X. They want this because they believe that getting face time, etc, will be good for our relationship. Details of said relationship are this. X's organization is a provider of services to our company upon which we depend. However, we are not a direct customer of X's organization. We have a customer in common. X's organization's services are necessary for our organization to operate with regard to that customer. I hope that's not too confusing.

Anyway, I have been getting increasing pressure to go do this schmoozing visit over the last year and a half. I have nothing against doing it, frankly. X is in Austin, and I'd love to take a trip there. Here's the rub. In the many conversations I have had with X over the years, I bring up the idea frequently. He is at best dismissive of the idea. I have gotten the distinct impression that he sees no value in it. (There may very well be none, practically speaking.) I have spent the better part of a year and a half trying to get him to warm up to the idea. He responds more or less politely, and has never outright told me it's a stupid idea. I've been hoping for some big thing that requires us to work together, but it hasn't come along and probably never will. I have been reluctant to set up a meeting with him in this frame of mind---the effect on our business relationship may not be what we hope for in that circumstance. I'm sure as hell not going to just show up and start demanding his time. He's a busy guy just as I am, and that's basically the diplomatic equivalent of a telemarketing call during dinner anyhow.

The pressure is really mounting on me to do this schmoozing. I'm afraid that I will do more harm than good. A and B don't know how I've been working on this up to now, and X has pretty good relationship with me. He's more honest with me than he will be with them. I'm sure if A called up X and said "Hey, MIM is coming to visit!", X would say "Cool! Come on down!" and then hang up the phone and facepalm. I honestly want to maintain a good relationship with the guy, but I'm caught in a vice. Right now, I think I'm going to go to A and B and explain my strategy up to this point and  ask their advice. I am almost 100% certain that will result in A making the facepalm call above. Just because that's the kind of person he is. How do I protect the business from the people in charge of it?

[HisMajestyBOB]

Right now, I think I'm going to go to A and B and explain my strategy up to this point and  ask their advice

That's exactly what I would do. You could also bring up the facepalm-call issue with A, too, depending on your relationship with him, if you think he can take a hint not to jump the gun.

[Monoriu]

Basically I think there are two strategies.  Plan A is to be completely honest with A&B, and tell him how X will react.  Plan B is to leave all your concerns behind, just buy a ticket, go to Austin, meet X for 15 minutes, and report back that you had a great meeting.  If A&B are like "obey me or else" type people, then I suggest Plan B. 

[Jacob]

You could also try to see if there's something else you could do in Austin that doesn't involve X at all.  Organize around that, and then drop X a "hey, I'm in town, want to get together for a bit."  That way you can still get the benefit of face-time while decreasing the facepalm from "they came all the way here to have a beer?  WTF?"  Of course, the risk is that X will be unavailable and busy so the secondary reason should be worthwhile on its own.

If you do try that strategy, I'd run it by A and B and get their buy in.

[Viking]

As Professor Lester Kershenbaum once told me. "A slave cannot have two masters". If you have two bosses, get another job.

[Admiral Yi]

Tell ABBA that you've sounded out Professor X on the idea and he didn't sound too keen.

[Caliga]

This seems like much ado about nothing to me.  I like Jacob's suggestion the best however.

[CountDeMoney]

and then hang up the phone and facepalm.

Internet memes in the common vernacular FTW

[MadImmortalMan]

As Professor Lester Kershenbaum once told me. "A slave cannot have two masters". If you have two bosses, get another job.

I don't. B owns the company and I report to A, who is a VP.



Another thing I've been considering is bringing in some support. I have a good rep with our CFO. He's a lot more tech-savvy and modern than A and B are (my predecessors were easily able to accomplish this mission by simply attending events X's org held for training. They do all of that via videoconference now.) CFO has been here a lot longer than me and they trust him. Maybe if we go bring up the concerns together that will help.

[Grey Fox]

Don't these people have name? Privacy my ass.

[Ed Anger]

Don't these people have name? Privacy my ass.

Curiosity killed the cat.

[crazy canuck]

You could also try to see if there's something else you could do in Austin that doesn't involve X at all.  Organize around that, and then drop X a "hey, I'm in town, want to get together for a bit."  That way you can still get the benefit of face-time while decreasing the facepalm from "they came all the way here to have a beer?  WTF?"  Of course, the risk is that X will be unavailable and busy so the secondary reason should be worthwhile on its own.

If you do try that strategy, I'd run it by A and B and get their buy in.

Excellent advice.

[lustindarkness]

Easy, have A, B and X join languish.

[garbon]

You could also try to see if there's something else you could do in Austin that doesn't involve X at all.  Organize around that, and then drop X a "hey, I'm in town, want to get together for a bit."  That way you can still get the benefit of face-time while decreasing the facepalm from "they came all the way here to have a beer?  WTF?"  Of course, the risk is that X will be unavailable and busy so the secondary reason should be worthwhile on its own.

If you do try that strategy, I'd run it by A and B and get their buy in.

Excellent advice.

Alternatively, you could also just tell X that you'd be in town for something else and ask if you can come by. If he says he's busy, don't go to town.

[Malthus]

Easy, have A, B and X join languish.

Surely the answer to any employee's dreams - have their boss on Languish.