Got a present!

[beaintheuk]

I rarely get presents but last week some visitors gave me a toiletry bag.  It's not so much the item itself, it's receiving a present which is gratifying!  Mind you I did use the bag at the weekend when I went away!!!

The visitors thank me as I had to help out their PA in organising their trip to the UK and it had got quite complicated and taken much of my time, which I had made my boss aware of.  

My boss had invited me to come along for the lunch which I had organised for the visitors and some of our managers.  I declined as I felt he only asked me because I arranged it - well it's just the way he asked me really, and he did ask me at the last minute too.

Anyway when he came back from the lunch he said 'Beatrice, I think you should have come, you know'.  He realised how thankful the visitors had been to me, they also thank my boss for letting me help them, and it made my boss think.

I know, I should have gone for the lunch - I won't decline next time!

Beatrice

[Jackie G]

Beatrice

congratulations on doing such a grand job with the organisation that everyone was happy.

With regard to being asked last minute to go to the lunch - this happened to me once when a client asked me to stay after their AGM (which I minuted) for the lunch - I was asked late the night before the event.  I asked if I was being invited because he felt he should (and it might be embarrassing if I left and others asked me why I wasn't staying);  or whether he genuinely wanted me to come.  I have always been able to speak plainly to these clients!!!

Anyway the answer was we want you to be there - this is obviously an annual lunch which I now also organise fully in terms of badging everyone because there are so many guests, and to begin with I waited for, or asked, my invitation - now I just include myself in the numbers and it's assumed and expected I will be there.  As a result of attending these lunches, I have got to know my clients better, as we're normally in meetings which are busy and focused, and they know me better - it means they trust me more with telling me things not only about the umbrella organisation to which they belong, but also about their own business, because they know it will go no further.

Naturally I don't charge for the time for the lunch! - in fact last year I made it home reasonably early (1 am!) but didn't get to bed till about 3.30 as I had a client with me which was eventually kicked out to his own home because I needed to sleep!

These clients now also include me in other things they do - they're in the catering business so you can imagine a few goodies come my way

The moral of the story is:  always accept invitations, you never know what they can lead to, and you will probably have a better time than you think too!

Jackie
www.iqps.org
DeskDemon Forum Board Staff