How to avoid working relationship stalemate.

[fraymond]

I was wondering if anyone experiences a similar thing on their gigs. A good client lasts a few years, problematic ones a matter of months. But the honeymoon period always wears off. Quite often with a stalemate or clash of personalities which seems to be unresolvable. Which is the case of my last gig, I never really got the chance to perform the duties stated in the contract, requests for work was not forth coming and so I asked they examine my need on the project. As a result, we wound up the engagement after 10 weeks as amongst the many grads/interns they hired doing ba/pm work there was no place left for me. Fair enough. But my question really is, when communication clashes begin, people begin to dig in their heels and nothing is actioned until a paper trail has been put in place due to mistrust, what can/have you done in the past to get over the hurdle? I'm getting tired of always moving on (even long stints) and wonder if there are smarter different ways of working with longevity. My observation is that 'nice' contractors who avoid politics and conflict seem to have an easier working life.

[BrilloPad]

I never really got the chance to perform the duties stated in the contract, requests for work was not forth coming and so I asked they examine my need on the project.

Personally I carried on invoicing while looking for a decent gig. Then found most clients were rubbish so I picked the one with the most money.

[BolshieBastard]

I was wondering if anyone experiences a similar thing on their gigs. A good client lasts a few years, problematic ones a matter of months. But the honeymoon period always wears off. Quite often with a stalemate or clash of personalities which seems to be unresolvable. Which is the case of my last gig, I never really got the chance to perform the duties stated in the contract, requests for work was not forth coming and so I asked they examine my need on the project. As a result, we wound up the engagement after 10 weeks as amongst the many grads/interns they hired doing ba/pm work there was no place left for me. Fair enough. But my question really is, when communication clashes begin, people begin to dig in their heels and nothing is actioned until a paper trail has been put in place due to mistrust, what can/have you done in the past to get over the hurdle? I'm getting tired of always moving on (even long stints) and wonder if there are smarter different ways of working with longevity. My observation is that 'nice' contractors who avoid politics and conflict seem to have an easier working life.

IME this only happens when the contractor wants to start exerting their 'experience' and the client does not want that out of a contractor.

The trick is recognising when the client wants the benefit of the experience or not.

No doubt some people will wade in with 'well this is what contractors are expected to deliver (their experience etc).' Well yes it is but not all clients want it.

I learnt that quite quickly with my repeat client (been back 5 times now, longest stint just over 3 years). When I suggested an alternative without prompting, they responded with 'We dont want to do that. We do it this way' etc, etc.

So, I only give them the benefit of my experience when they ask for it.

[jmo21]

The trick is recognising when the client wants the benefit of the experience or not.

This.

[northernladuk]

I'm getting tired of always moving on (even long stints) and wonder if there are smarter different ways of working with longevity. My observation is that 'nice' contractors who avoid politics and conflict seem to have an easier working life.

Consider going permie?. Looking for long cosy gigs and not relishing moving on can't be the way of a contractor surely. I contract because I look forward to the next challenge and attempt to do the best job of it until my time is up or there is nothing to get my teeth into and then move on. Long easy jobs safe jobs for perms. It is possible with contracting getting more and more watered down and more the norm for recruiting you are going get more and more unhappy with it.

[escapeUK]

It depends on who you are dealing with. If you are dealing with someone senior and experienced, then be honest with what you think, be professional though, and realise they are in charge and its important to make them happy. So sometimes you will have to go along with them when they are wrong.

Sometimes you are dealing with someone who knows nothing, and yet wants to be "in charge", usually they are junior in the business but cant understand why they are not in the top management. Nothing good ever comes of being with such people, the temptation is to allow them to make the decisions that make the project fail, usually this will be unavoidable anyway as they know best. Usually they will then try to blame you. The trick is spotting these sort of people early on and getting out.

[psychocandy]

To be honest, up to client if they want to listen or not. Some don't listen. Some want to carry on in their own way.

Not my problem to change them or get too involved as long as they're paying.

[fraymond]

Sometimes you are dealing with someone who knows nothing, and yet wants to be "in charge", usually they are junior in the business but cant understand why they are not in the top management. Nothing good ever comes of being with such people, the temptation is to allow them to make the decisions that make the project fail, [snip] The trick is spotting these sort of people early on and getting out.

Funny you should say that, it was exactly the position I found myself in. The grad was a defecto pm but with the blessing of senior mgt. anytime good sense was brought up to avert problems, it was usually escalated as 'difficult contractor'. And so I wasn't unhappy about a mutual early departure due to "lack of work", as the collateral damage to the project was mounting without sufficient experience to see this becoming a major problem next year. The only thing is, I'm left wondering if a different approach could have yielded a better, more fulfilling engagement all round. Perhaps becoming a regular drinking buddy with her superiors could have yielded more influence.

[fraymond]

Consider going permie?. Looking for long cosy gigs and not relishing moving on can't be the way of a contractor surely.

I see your POV, but after contracting for 10 yrs I could never go back. My comment was really about the fact that in the line of providing business services as a pm, it seems very difficult not to get (at least partially) involved in politics during the day to day running of things. As a hands on techie it was much easier to do what told and have a longer engagement. Now that there are more soft skills involved, invariably some contracts collect personality clashes and are at risk of vested interests, subversive games and positioning getting in the way. Each engagement takes so much upfront relationship building and people investment, it seems a shame to have them cut short by the same measures playing out in reverse. Maybe I get too involved, or is it just harder delivering change program's as a true contractor compared to other services?

[BolshieBastard]

Funny you should say that, it was exactly the position I found myself in. The grad was a defecto pm but with the blessing of senior mgt. anytime good sense was brought up to avert problems, it was usually escalated as 'difficult contractor'. And so I wasn't unhappy about a mutual early departure due to "lack of work", as the collateral damage to the project was mounting without sufficient experience to see this becoming a major problem next year. The only thing is, I'm left wondering if a different approach could have yielded a better, more fulfilling engagement all round. Perhaps becoming a regular drinking buddy with her superiors could have yielded more influence.

OK, so you think going over the 'problem's' head and socialising with their senior management would have made things easier for you?

I think I can see what went wrong here!