We were exploring a tie-up with radiologists in Nalasopara. This couple was reluctant and did not even answer our calls. So, a day before Diwali, I and our Sales Head - Shailendra Raghuwanshi decided to visit there. We went there without notice. The doctor reluctantly let us in. She told us that she was busy preparing for Diwali. We told her about our proposal, and as expected, she told us she would think and revert. In our discussions, I casually mentioned the HR challenges faced by the healthcare industry. It struck a chord. We started speaking. I explained the OKR system we were implementing in our company. She asked us for more information. Our meeting went on for more than an hour. The deal did not go through then, but we created the ground for the future. She handed both of us a special Diwali gift too!
I think we got a foot in the door only because we took the trouble of driving 150 Kms for an uncertain meeting. That's the power of going out of the way.
When I was working with SI Group, we had placed an order with Godrej for the fabrication of process equipment. Our project was facing an overrun because of the delay in the delivery of equipment. We could not sort it with the team that was working on our job. I tried a few times to escalate it. But, my calls never made it past their receptionist. Then one day, I called before office hours. To my surprise, their boss answered my call. He was there before the receptionist! He patiently listened to me and promised to look into the matter. He indeed pushed the team and expedited our job. We applied a penalty for the delay, and Godrej accepted it. I learned an important lesson. In the future, whenever I wanted to reach out to the top boss, I either called before the office hours or after the office was closed. It worked out 8/10 times. Not a bad hit ratio.
Metrics: Are you facing a challenge that seems unresolvable? List down at least five unconventional ways to resolve it. Attempt them one after another. While deciding the approaches think of things that would need you to work hard. The efforts you put in become evident to others. If not for anything else, they respond because of the trouble you have taken.
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