[b-school] Change is continuous

[mangosteen]

Note: This has worked for me more often than not. Edge cases are a certainty.

Number #whatever in Things I've started doing of my own accord, likely attributable to b-school:

1. Before making a business phone call, I write out three points I'd like to talk about in the call. More than that and it's a meeting. Less than that, and it might be better in email to start with.

2. During the call, I make quick notes of the responses.

3. At the end of the call, I verify the responses from my notes, and inform the person that mail will be sent out with the agreed upon points, and also inform them of the likely Cc: list.

4. Send the mail.

Realization: "If it's not written down, it doesn't exist" isn't just a defensive (or offensive) business maneuver. In fact, thinking of it as a maneuver is a pretty bad idea, too.

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

I do something very much like this. If it's a money-transaction, I also write down (actually, type) everything that goes on in the call. It keeps me calm, and provides a permanent record.

It also works in face-to-face situations. In meetings at work, writing the points on the projected computer screen, asking the people to go through them, getting consensus, and then agreeing at the end of the meeting, makes things go much smoother.