Workplace Personalities - The Uppity Vendor

 

 

 

 

 

This is usually a vendor who is working on site, for a reasonable period of time, on a fixed project. They become part of the team - as they should be - and are involved in key meetings, project updates, etc.

But, somewhere along the line, they forget that they are a vendor and, rather than espousing the positive corporate values of "collaboration", "best practice", hell, even "mentoring", they choose to just come out and tell you how to do your job.

These little golden nugget unsolicited advice sessions can often be identified broken down into these phases...

Phase 1 - the Assertive Opener:

"I just wanted to synch with you on..."

"I think we should have a quick debrief on..."

"I'd like to share some feedback with you on..."

 

Phase 2 - The It's Not Just You - Honest - Reassurance:

"in my experience"

"look, I often make the same mistake"

"this is a common problem in all organizations"

"I'm not singling you out."

Phase 3 - The Qualifier:

"but..."

 

Phase 4 - The How To Suck Eggs Intro:

"you could try approaching it with..."

"I think we'd get more positive feedback if you..."

"Our team would have a higher profile if you..."

Phase 5 - The Annoying Advice

Actual content depends on the meeting that just took place, the project you're working on, etc.  But no matter what the content, it's condescending, tells you nothing you don't know already and is told to you with no assumption tha you would ever have a which underlies your approach.

Phase 6 - The Fake CYA:

"Of course, you know this organization better than me so..."

"I know you may have already thought about this..."

"Tell me if you disagree. We should be completely honest and open with each other..."

"I know I'm preaching to the choir here..."

 

Phase 7: Reiteration of The Annoying Advice

See Phase 5.

            

I have a friend - let's call her Sue - who has had to put up with this frequently.  She has invented a surefire way to stop these awkward little sessions happening in her working life.

She looks the vendor straight in the eye and says:

"So fire me."

Key Signs: 

• False modesty
• Condescending tone
• Placating phrases
• Overstepping

Catch Phrases: "Let's just blue sky this for a minute..."  

Your Strategy:   

• Smack 'em in the face with Sue's approach, above and/or...
• Give them seemingly important tasks which have no real bearing on the project 

Their comeuppance:  

Wait till contract renewal and explain to your boss that the vendor - with you having given them, for months, tasks that add no value, that engaging the vendor is not worth departmentmental budget 

For more Workplace Personalities, click here

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