Easy Negotiation Techniques

Handling Renovations

Some things in life make me think too much. Why do people promise something can be done quickly and then take their time?

I always rush to make sure I fulfill promises I make. I would feel badly if I could not get something done ‘on time.’

The contractor said my office floor would be done on Friday when in fact I began to see there was no feasible way to get that done without him working a full 8 hours.

He arrived late. (around 10:00 am) He had said, ‘We will start working at 8:00 AM.’ Then, after going out for lunch for a good hour, he wanted to leave my house at 2:00 PM.

I took over and said, ‘This is a holiday weekend. Are you coming back tomorrow?’

He told me he does not work Saturday or Sunday and Monday is a holiday so he’d see me Tuesday.

I looked at him and asked him why he had told me my office would be ready Friday? Why was he leaving so early? Why he made promises impossible to keep?

I said, ‘You and the plumber want to leave without giving me a functional bathroom and an office floor. You are going to leave Particles of under-padding and cutting in my house and you are planning to leave for 3 days.’

He used his shop-vac and cleaned up some of the mess.

So, now he came back yesterday, (Saturday) the plumber stayed all day but he strolled in and said he had an emergency. A family member broke a foot and was in the hospital.

Do I believe this man? I think not. Once burned twice shy, as the saying goes. (now I know why this saying was made up)

He came back and and showed me that although I had no office floor he had brought in the wood to get acclimatized. My bathroom had no dry wall but it was functional.

I am still on my laptop with no desk. Well, I have a desk, it is sitting in my hallway with my shoe racks and bookcase and my printer is in my living-room with my filing cabinets and and other miscellaneous office furniture.

It is Sunday now. I would never ask people to work on Sunday. I did however say, ‘Since you could not meet your obligation to at least finish my office floor, I think you should work Monday.’

He is coming here on Monday with the plumber to do my office floor.

I took action. Was I mean? I spoke nicely and never raised my voice. I stated facts.

I acted like I was in control. (inside I felt like crap …no office) I got some compromise from the workers.

Is this what it takes in life to have others be honest and not make promises they cannot keep?

I think so. I wish people just acted the right way to begin with.

http://davedagruber.com

Daveda Gruber