The whole 'not giving a stuff' thing...

[OwlHoot]

.. As a contractor your first duty is to your client ...

I assume my first duty is to the client rep who hired me, which one hopes is much the same.

But as it isn't always clear cut who your main rep is, as there can be several, and they can chop and change, it's best to be generally helpful and obliging, where this doesn't compromise one's primary loyalty.

[MarillionFan]

I don't think I'm universally popular

Moderators! Moderators! Someone has stolen Sasguru's login, two posts I agree with in as many minutes!!

Who are you, you imposter?

[cailin maith]

Thing is - and those of you who know me will know this - I'm still very much a kid in comparison to these guys... In terms of gravitas, brevity and the like. They're all at least 10 years my senior. That hasn't been a problem on the project as we all work well together... but facing off the M-bleedin-D? I've only been in this sector for 5 years, and most of it working on sector-agnostic principles.

It's a hard thing to admit to on the open forum, but I'm ever so slightly intimidated, and would appreciate the benefit of coping strategies & your experience in similar situations.

First off - stop selling yourself short!

You're smart enough and know what you are good at which is why you will be grand.

[doodab]

After reading the 'What's a senior position?' and the 'PM/Boss' threads... I'd like to hear the congregation's thoughts on the following:

I've been called into a long meeting with the MD.
The Programme Architect, Programme Manager, Sponsor, Lead BA and Project Manager will also be there. The MD wants to know who he's got delivering his project, and we've been asked to prepare a short bio illustrating our outstanding contributions to clientcos great and good.

I thrice questioned the wisdom of the Programme Manager in wanting me in this meeting, 'are you sure you need me in on this?' etc. I'm starting to feel nervous about completely cocking up/tripping over my own words or just clamming up. My role is unofficially UX lead, as I'm 'on loan' from another part of the business... but there can't be any buck-passing in this meeting - the sponsor wants us to present a cohesive team spirit. There's no way I can answer any business Qs, but am quite happy to talk around my core SME.

Thing is - and those of you who know me will know this - I'm still very much a kid in comparison to these guys... In terms of gravitas, brevity and the like. They're all at least 10 years my senior. That hasn't been a problem on the project as we all work well together... but facing off the M-bleedin-D? I've only been in this sector for 5 years, and most of it working on sector-agnostic principles.

It's a hard thing to admit to on the open forum, but I'm ever so slightly intimidated, and would appreciate the benefit of coping strategies & your experience in similar situations.

I await the flaming with (hopefully) some comforting and helpful insight.

When it comes around to drawing on the whiteboard, drop the pen and be sure to fart when you bend over to pick it up. They will laugh and this is what they will remember.

[DS23]

cometh the hour cometh the ninja squizzer!

don't worry about the others: just focus on getting your short bio up to scratch and as cojak says - practice enhancing it (not repeating it!) aloud. speaking aloud helps to get the soundbites right.

this is a fantastic opportunity to sell yourself and an element of nervousness is to be expected. it is extremely unlikely that you will be put in any kind of difficulty.

beyond the bio - think about the "big picture" that the md will wanting to hear and expand on: efficiency, growth, margin, security, strategy... anything that you can do to enhance these aspects (prompted or otherwise) would be a good thing.

get to the meeting early, be sharp and attentive to all the clues offered and decipher the various agendas as soon as you can. the meeting has probably been called to validate the md's decision to back the project but if not get ready to change tack as necessary.

but mainly and chiefly: don't sweat it. you're the hired gun. you're a hot shot specialist in the land of the blind. you're the one eyed king! so, sit back, watch, learn and chip in when asked.

easy.

good luck.

[DS23]

has it happened?

how did it go?

[realityhack]

has it happened?

how did it go?

What a long day.

Many thanks everyone. Sincerely.

So, there was more than one MD in the room. The non-exec was actually very softly spoken, yet had a level of attentive focus that could burn a hole through a brick wall, and body language that betrayed a JFDI nature.
The Septic was bombastic and forthright, almost to the point of rudeness with the most senior people there, with a background level of sarcasm for everyone else. The presentation went well. I was still nervous, but I got my point across. Even gave the elevator pitch about usability - so at least they know what I do and what value that brings.
The COO was disarmingly nice, polite and helpful. Most of the rest of the team were silent. The Architect, Sponsor and PM were the only others that spoke!

And that's that. Lasted for 2 hours in the end. Followed quickly by vendor meetings, and a pleasant half-hour chat with the head of IT. Something which, in itself, I would have been a little hesitant about before the big meeting.

I feel I've gained something, If only by osmosis.

<--manly to all.

[Zippy]

Well done RH
It'll be a lot easier next time.

I always liked working with Americans - you know what you are going to get.

[DS23]

nice one!
have a !

[MarillionFan]

Well done. Personally speaking I would suggest you try and get into these types of meetings as much as possible.

A few years ago I was just a simple 3rd rate Crystal Reports hack with a tat shop and a big mouth putting the odd point across.

After involving myself in these types of meetings and getting better exposure,

I am now a 3rd rate Programme Manager with a tat shop and a big mouth. See, least some things can change.