It's good to talk!

15/11/08

A member asked me recently what they should do because someone in their chapter had talked about something they themselves did in a 60 seconds presentation.

Although the service could have been provided by either member, the service concerned was plainly covered by the aggrieved member's category and not by the other member. So, there was a conflict of category.

The member had already talked to the Chapter Director and had been advised to put the matter in writing and hand it into the Membership Co-ordinator for the Membership Committee to consider. Not only was this the correct procedure but also the member's right.

However, I suggested to the member that it might be better to email the Membership Co-ordinator their concerns, but to say that they, the member, would talk to the person concerned first and see what could be done. My feeling was that once official, something that may have been just an innocent mistake, would develop into something more major with the full committee involved.
Whereas a simple chat might resolve the matter without anyone else having to be involved.

The next day the member rang me to say how glad they were that they took my advice. They had met with the other member, who had realised as soon as the words were spoken that it was not their area of work to talk about and, by talking, had agreed on the boundaries to which they should keep.

But, the best part. They discovered more about each other's businesses and will now be working on a project together!