You are the expert — you should tell me instead!

Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash

When starting a project, do you think it’s better for TOP-DOWN approach? or BOTTOM-UP?

Ok... Ok... so our account manager was getting new lead on existing customer. Account Manager dude love to sell something to customers for something that Mr. Customer have no idea about.

I was on delivery team for the new initiative, I was developer, also playing role as business analyst, and…. everything infra, fancy! (But… but…but… still earning as single developer salary — that’s suck!)

Me and my team of 3 was invited to join the first meeting with Mr. Customer. On that meeting our account manager share presentations of few slides. The slides go like this:

Slide 1 — “Project initiation — [Country][Year]” — nothing else just background and title — Well ok, all slide need opening & title

Slide 2 — “Mr. Customer” — 1 giant logo & company tag line — hmm, ok, that’s to please Mr. Customer

Slide 3 — “Our Company” — 1 giant logo + 10 smaller logos of company that work with us — OK…. BRAGGING is fine, good… good…

Slide 4 — “Our Team’ — 3 corporate criminal photo of the team (i mean professional photo) + certifications & university background — Wait.. why my picture out there!? mmm fishy.

Slide 5 — “Q&A” — Yeap, you read it right. a giant freaking Q&A Logo

Slide 7— “THANK YOU!” — What the….

So as the meeting progress, after slide 4, The Account Manager dude said to me “Over to you…” Our team wasn’t briefed about this engagement, we never work with the account before, another team does….

OK, I wear my “BA” hat and ask: Me: “Thank you for having us, may I understand the goal or objective that you are looking from the initiative?” Mr. Customer: “Hmmm….” (pause for like good 15 seconds) Account Manager: “Well, Mr. Customer is working in ** industry” Me: “Yes, I understand. But on this project, what’s the expected goal or success criteria.” Mr. Customer: “You are the expert here; you should tell me. Why are you asking this kind of questions. Now I’m not sure if you are qualified for the project”

Me and my teammates was stunned. Wait… do we missed any email or communication or anything!?!? I don't think so…

So, after 15 minutes, we wrap the meeting and account manager apologized that the team wasn’t prepared…

WHAT!?!?!?

After Mr. Customer left the meeting room, I stare at the Account Manager dude, “What is this? Can you actually explain that’s happening? I was told to come with the team to get information from Mr. Customer, but I think he expected us to know the problem already?”

Account Manager dude then replied, “Why you don't read the briefing email?”.

“Briefing email?! I checked my outlook 100 times and there’s nothing. Same goes my other team members, we didn’t receive anything…”

“Come one… I sent last night… Please double check…”

“Nope, no email. Are you sending to us!? Do you mind checking our SENT items”?

“Hm... that’s weird… I don't see the email on my sent items, nor my draft…”

What a joke!

Photo by Debasish Lenka on Unsplash

Do you encounter similar thing?

Yes, we are consultant, we know lots of things... but, not when we are invited to a meeting without context.

I really don't like anyone…. be it external… or internal customer saying “You are the export, you should know…”

I need stronger crystal ball… a magical with unicorn powder on it.

What could go wrong, right?

Btw, did you realised “Slide 6 is missing!?” — YES! Account Manager dude put an index on top right of the PPTX, and he has typo missing number 6… WHAT A JOKER!