Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 26

FEATURESTORY
Set. Create. Drive. Establish. Define. Escalate. Maintain. Intervene.
Figure 1: The Work Structure

change or add-on mid-way through a
project. Agreement is reached on this
change, but no one informs the PMs
or other resources involved - even
though this change may impact the
timeline and the budget by 25 percent!
Chaos ensues, as project plans are
suddenly scrambled and fingerpointing begins in earnest. Plus, when
the altered version comes up for
review, it has to be re-done because
key messaging was le out.
Sound crazy? is undisciplined
communication happens all the time.
Which is why a structured
communication plan must be created
and enforced throughout the
relationship.
Of course, no supplier-client
relationship is perfect, and no project
runs flawlessly. at's why rapid and
ongoing accountability is vital.

business owner level so that corrective
action can be taken. Sometimes the
ball has been dropped inadvertently
and a brief communication is all that's
needed to fix it. When expectations
are not met and the wound is allowed
to fester, however, the client-supplier

relationship may suffer permanently.
While it is imperative to have
ongoing accountability, it is also a
recommended practice to have a postmortem meeting at the end of any
project to discuss what went right, and
what can be improved. is level of
communication generally leads to
healthier ongoing partnerships with
suppliers.
Remember, suppliers are people
just like you: ey want to succeed.
ey want to work with you for the
long-term. And, you never know -
they may even hire you one day!
Set. Create. Drive. Establish.
Define. Escalate. Maintain. Intervene.
ese are proactive verbs. is is the
kind of collaboration you'll engage in
for the rest of your career. Successfully
partnering with suppliers sets you up
for success in all your future
endeavors. ■

Maintain Accountability
Most suppliers truly want to do a
great job for their clients. ey want
feedback, and they'd prefer to hear it
sooner rather than later. If a project
starts to go off the rails, intervention
may be necessary. If supplier
performance is sub-standard and the
supplier PM is not responsive, it is
best to immediately escalate this to the

Of course, no supplier-client relationship is perfect,
and no project runs flawlessly. That's why rapid and
ongoing accountability is vital.

Steve Woodruff is president of Impactiviti. Email Steve at stevew@impactiviti.com.

26

FOCUS | Summer 2017 | www.L-TEN.org


http://www.L-TEN.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Focus Magazine - Summer 2017

LTEN Focus on Training Magazine
From the President: Who's Ready to Role-Play
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Guest Editor: The Recipe for Retention
Directions: @yourLTEN: Customizing Your Experience
Front of the Room: Engaging Sales Managers
Training's Role in Mergers & Acquisitions
Successfully Partnering with Suppliers
Innovative Approaches to Leadership Development
10 Tips for Product Launch Training
From Rep to Training Manager: The Successful Transition
What DJs Can Teach Us About Webinars
Pre-Gaming for Sales
Virtual How: The Role of Key Account Managers
Ad Index
Focus Contacts
5 Questions with John Constantine
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Intro
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - LTEN Focus on Training Magazine
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Cover2
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 3
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 4
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - From the President: Who's Ready to Role-Play
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 6
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Table of Contents
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 8
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Table of Contents
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 10
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Guest Editor: The Recipe for Retention
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 12
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Directions: @yourLTEN: Customizing Your Experience
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 14
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Front of the Room: Engaging Sales Managers
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 16
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Training's Role in Mergers & Acquisitions
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 18
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 19
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 20
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 21
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Successfully Partnering with Suppliers
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 23
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 24
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 25
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 26
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 27
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Innovative Approaches to Leadership Development
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 29
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 30
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 31
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 32
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 33
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 10 Tips for Product Launch Training
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 35
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - From Rep to Training Manager: The Successful Transition
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 37
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 38
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 39
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - What DJs Can Teach Us About Webinars
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 41
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 42
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 43
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Pre-Gaming for Sales
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 45
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 46
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 47
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 48
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Virtual How: The Role of Key Account Managers
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 50
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 51
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Ad Index
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Focus Contacts
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - 5 Questions with John Constantine
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Cover3
Focus Magazine - Summer 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017summer_supp3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017summer_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017spring_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2016summer_supp2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2016summer_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2015winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2015summer_supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/LtenFocus/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2013summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/focus/2011summer
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com