A project I’m working on involves engaging with a lot of internal stakeholders at an agency. I’ve worked with some of these people before, but not to their process. Which, obviously, differs from mine.
Yesterday, we came across a challenge of how to negotiate a part of that process that means different things to us both. I’m happy to capitualte here, but not without putting forth my own reasoning. After all, while I’m good to accept the process they use and adhere to it as much as possible, I’m also being asked to bring my own thinking and process to the table. And so I do.
One thing has changed in my favour, the other hasn’t. I think we’re showing our hand too early on this second point, but I cannot change it. I’ve argued my case, which has to an extent been accepted. However, in terms of moving forward I’ve stopped pushing my process and stepping into line with theirs. It remains to be seen what happens, but after 9 weeks of waiting we finally got a date from their client for the next state to progress.
So, there we are. I think this shows that it’s good to have an open discussion where there are differences. Equally, there comes a time when being right isn’t, well, right. It’s about what moves things forward, something I’ve learned many times in my career and which, when the time is right, I shift back to.
I’d rather have momentum than I would win a battle that causes friction.