I can’t do that date!

9/2/08

Have you ever been at a meeting when the Treasurer is announcing the next six speakers and it goes something like this?

‘Bob you’re next week, Steve then it’s you on the 15th, James 22nd, Clive 29th …’ ,but Clive cuts in and says he can’t do the 29th. The Treasurer then asks Sally, but she’s away, Jean is on a course and no-one else has their diary with them. So it ends up a mess and ‘Oh well, I'll confirm next week’, says the Treasurer.

Tell me: what does that say to any visitors? And more important, what does it say about the Treasurer? Do they run their business that way? Would I refer to someone that disorganised?

And do you know the really silly thing? With just a little planning the Treasurer can look like the most efficient person on the planet.

How? Email. In fact, any communication before the meeting. If Clive had been asked before the meeting and then Sally and Jean, all the problem dates would have been sorted out and when the next six speakers were read out, they would have already been agreed. The meeting would have run more smoothly, saving time, and the Treasurer would have shown off their management skills.

So easy and so much better for the chapter and Treasurer alike. And the real big benefit? An increase in the chance of a referral for the Treasurer!