How do I avoid looking like an ass?

Question

I had this scenario come up recently. Contract is sent to the client, redlines reviewed and accepted, just waiting on esignature. The champion emails me to say that there will be a delay in signing because the DM is OOO due to a family bereavement.

I thought that getting the contract signed for a non-business critical service would be the last thing the DM cares about given the circumstances, but we have monthly targets and as it's near the end of the month, I would need to update my forecast. Thing is, I had no idea how to ask for an updated timeframe without coming across like an ass, so I just didn't ask.

Luckily in this case the champion read my mind and gave me a timeframe. In the end it was all for nought because the DM signed within the original timeframe anyway, much to the surprise of both myself and the champion.

No doubt a lot of you here will have seen this before. How would you approach this?

Accepted Answer

You found a gem signer! Only had this happen once and just acted like a normal human, showed empathy and obviously I can wait until he’s back in office after grieving with fam. People respect integrity and human reactions.

Answer

Always show empathy. Be human.

Answer

As others have said, empathy, honesty, integrity. Be real. Be human

Answer

Show empathy - display understanding - ask for what the next steps are now

Answer

I've been unlucky and I have found people who absolutely did not let me know what the future looked like. In the recent hurricane, while I was empathising, I was also in a mess to what to update my leadership in the forecast. So I asked in a very diplomatic way (not the best I could have done) - Do you think we should get together in 2 weeks time to how we can get the implementation started?

My heart was in my mouth all the time. I felt guilty.

Answer

yeah this is tough, the best thing to do is be honest and show empathy.

Answer

Send something like "sorry for your loss" but do not say anything about the deal. It will mean more to him and then he might respond with your answer without even asking. I assume he knows everything about the deal and likely knows about the deal.

Answer

Im just frank about it. “Hey billy bob, its the end of the month and i need to give an accurate as possible timeline for our forecast to leadership. Can you shout me your expected timeline for signature?

I’m not pushing to close it faster just acknowledging that its helpful for me to know.

People want to be helpful

Answer

Relax savage.

Notmyrealname

How do I avoid looking like an ass?

13 comments

Notmyrealname

How do I avoid looking like an ass?

13 comments

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