This one important question will…
It’s ten minutes before eight and I find a large, open table in a busy local coffee shop. You know the franchise with a famous name that starts with an ‘S’? One of those! ‘Gee, that’s lucky’ I tell myself. This is perfect for our meeting.’
‘I’ll meet you at the local coffee shop next Thursday at 8am, on 17’th’ she said. ‘Sure’ I’d replied, aware that she was pressed for time and that an early meeting was the only way I’d get to connect with her in person. that was our arrangement. Easy, 8am on Thursday at 17′th.
Thursday arrives, I follow through and seat myself at the large table I was lucky to find. Eight o’ clock arrives. Ten past eight rolls by and still no client. ‘Ten minutes, hmm. Anything could have delayed her. I don’t have a next appointment till 11, so I can wait a little longer.’ That’s the conversation I have with myself as I watch the clock and the coffee shop door. This table is so perfectly positioned. I’ve been counting the people as they arrive to get their kick-start for the day.
Another five minutes rolls by. Still, no sign of my client. Thankfully the age of technology places quick contact at our fingertips. So, I call her and reach the office answering machine and leave my message: ‘Hi. This is Deborah Rossouw. Just checking if we’re still on for this morning and if I got it right? I’m at the coffee shop on 17’th and Lonsdale. Give me a call.’ And I leave my mobile number and hang up. In addition, I send her a similar text message – just in case.
Twenty five past eight, still no client and no calls. ‘Well, it’s clear she’s not arriving’ I tell myself as I pack up and head for my car. Just as I’m about to turn on the ignition, my mobile phone rings. ‘Good morning, Deborah. Are we still on for this morning? We were to meet at 8, not so?’
‘Yes’ I say, ‘I’ve just left ‘S’ coffee shop on 17’th and Lonsdale.’
‘Oh, she says, I’ve been waiting for you at ‘S’ on 17’th, but it’s 17’th and Marine Drive in West Vancouver.’
Neither my client nor I had checked our individual assumptions about the location we were to meet at because we both believed we knew where it was.
‘Oh no!’ I reply, ‘we’ve both been waiting, but at two different coffee shops! I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding. Would you still like to meet?’
‘Yes, and I’ve a client at 9am, so if you can get here as soon as possible it’ll give us a few minutes.’
‘I’m on my way,’ I reply. Let me check – where exactly would you like me to meet you?’
‘In my office,’ she says.
‘Just so I make sure we connect. Remind me again of the location of your office?’
‘It above the Coast Capital building,’ she says.’
Great. I’m on my way. Thank you.’
And as we finish speaking I look at the number on the phone display and notice that it’s different from the one I had for her. ‘Aah, this one must be her cell phone. Good to know!’ And I immediately add it to her name in my phone contacts. ‘And,’ I continue my internal conversation, ‘the building above Coast Capital, mm, that’s not the office I met her at last time. Now that I think about it, I recall she’d told me she works from two different locations. I’m glad I asked her that.’ I mutter to myself ‘One assumption is enough!’
Now, what are the chances of the same franchise would have two coffee shops on 17’th Street in two adjoining suburbs? Well, perhaps that’s a no-brainer question, especially as that particular enterprise positions itself everywhere it can! But I digress…
I’m pleased to report that our meeting was a success and that she confirmed the team-building event that she wants me to facilitate for her team. It could however have been very different! This was a close miss that I’d hate to repeat.
How easy it is to make assumptions! When last were you caught unawares by thinking you knew what the other person was referring to?
What one strategy can you use to reduce or eliminate assumptions?
Here’s the one question I’m going to use: ‘Let me check, do you mean….? This one important question would have made an enormous difference to me and my client this Thursday morning. I hope this one important question will make a difference to you too!
