TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS
Dear Uncle Jack
I am the big boss of a major subbie. My attention has been drawn to the views expressed in your
articles and seminars. You should have
gone out with the dinosaurs. You
suggest that many builders are liars and bullies. This is not the case. If you
were of sufficient importance to attend one of our get together at the Savoy Grill, you would see what a splendid relationship we all have.
The key words in the modern world are now “partnership” and “mission statement”. My staff are instructed to regard the
builder as a valued customer, to work
on a basis of mutual trust and co-operation.
I do not personally visit any of our “sites” (I believe that is
what you call them, although we big bosses prefer to think of them as “outdoor
factories”). And I am too busy to listen to people such as engineers and
supervisors. However, my executives
assure me that relationships with the builders are at an all time high. This is
due to our modern, pro-active approach, reinforced by eliminating old fashioned
paperwork such as delay notices, and “getting close” to our customers. Only
the other day, I was told of a customer who said “My door is always open”. Isn’t that wonderful? But you wouldn’t
understand. I suggest you either retire
or get up to date with the modern world.
Dear Big Boss
Views such as yours now dominate the trade press. Those views reflect, as you say, the “modern
world”. The construction industry is
now beset with “political correctness”, whereby any ambitious executive
must subscribe to the trendy rhubarb or
else.
However, just like the country in general, there is a “silent
majority” whose views are unwanted and unheard by the establishment. In our case, this majority is made up of
engineers and supervisors. These are the people who live in the “real world”,
and they have much to teach us. One
such engineer recently observed that nobody is a “customer” until he has paid for
what he received. On that basis, I suggest
that you review your definition of builders.
As long as I see decent subbies being done over by bullying,
unscrupulous builders, I shall pump out the same old advice, which is “Trust
nobody, and confirm everything in writing”.
“Jack Russell” column for April 2000 – File 95et – 12/3/2000
John Russell
Contracts and
Training Consultant
Cheshire CW4 7DP
Tel: 07770 986444
Email: swsubbie@globalnet.co.uk
Back to Jack Russell Column
Contents