What Govees Dislike About Contractors
Do you believe your interface with govees ever ruffles a few feathers?
To some it is obvious, to others not so, but I believe we could all take a refresher course in Contractor-to-Government Interface 101.
Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts; no preamble. Govees get upset at contractors for:
Arriving for a meeting late
Not effectively using the time allocated for a meeting; not getting to the “Ask” quickly
Asking ”What keeps you up at night?”
Asking how they can be helpful rather than having ideas about how to be of assistance
Not being prepared for a meeting; not taking the time to understand the client or their challenges
Showing up for a meeting not having a clue as to what your agency does or the role of your organization -- which means the contactor asks a lot of dumb questions that waste time
Lacking a clear value proposition for their company -- what separates/ differentiates them from their peers?
Trying to apply a “cookie cutter” approach to address unique agency problems and issues
Asking a question but not listening to the answer
Having the answer to your problem without understanding the problem
Selling-Selling-Selling with little consideration for what the problem/challenge is
Going through their “ILOVEME” presentation deck, one slide at a time
Not understanding federal processes
Being vain:
“I’d like you to help me understand how your agency can use my product.”
“Can you help me understand your agency?”
“I’d like to understand your priorities.”
Contractor performance after contract award:
Showing up with the “B” Team, not the bid team, commonly termed bait-and-switch
Low bidding to win the program then working from the first day of the contract to get whole
Having more attorneys than delivery personnel attend a meeting.
What Contractors Dislike About Govees
OK, OK. Perhaps there are some things govees do that irritate contractors. These include:
Arriving for a meeting late
Cancelling a meeting the morning of the meeting, when out-of-town attendees are present
Substituting someone else for the meeting
Not paying attention during the meeting
Looking at their watch often; excusing themselves and leaving the meeting early
Not taking notes allowing the perception the meeting has little to no value
Not looking at or even feigning interest in pre-read materials
Excusing themselves when their EA enters the room and whispers in their ear, no doubt a prearranged activity to rid themselves of those across the table.