Besides being a role model and inspiring Administrative Professionals all over the world, I do have another job – Chairperson of our Trustees Committee. Yup for my sins I was voted in a second year in a row – supported by an amazing group of individuals who share the same vision and dream for our complex.
I know that dealing with municipalities and government in general is rather trying and requires tact and some serious patience. It doesn’t help to get upset when you say one thing and they understand it in another way. That is enough to drive one dilly. My secretary usually ran with anything to do with Johannesburg Water or JRA. He just couldn’t anymore and I watched how this poor man shook when speaking to these people and getting so frustrated.
So I stepped in and took over the reigns on that project. I found that just by talking and trying to understand where the problems were in communication, what their understanding was as opposed to what we understood should happen, we managed to find a solution to the problem that has been going on for well over a month now.
After many emails and phone calls, we have finally finished with this project. I just found that talking to them like people, not expecting anything much, but just listening to them, reasoning with them to a point where we both understood each other perfectly. I got to the point where I wasn’t asking anymore, I stipulated by when I wanted the task done and dusted and I said that I would really appreciate it if they could get this done for me by when I asked for.
Today, they called me to show me what had been done and that all is finished. Now most people would be sarcastic and say statements like “It’s about time” or something to that effect. I turned around and said how happy I was that “we” managed to get this job done by today. I told the Foreman how much I appreciated him getting this done quickly and asked him to thank his team for me. This was also followed up by an email to thank all parties and departments involved and to mention the two people I dealt with personally for their understanding and speedy service.
That does a lot for one’s soul. When I need something done again in future, I know that I will get priority because I had patience and took the time to make them feel like they were important and saved the day.
Sometimes, we just have to give a little more of ourselves even though we are busy and haven’t got time to sort out stuff. We need to make the time, because it is important for all of us to work in harmony and to achieve the goal together.