Good Coffee and Poor Contracts

So, today, we met with one of the up-and-coming building contractors and two of his clients in an affluent area in Cape Town. Two ladies, two contracts and two very different experiences - one stressful and loaded with emotion (anger) and the other relaxed and filled with emotion of a different kind (gratitude). It was like being on an emotional rollercoaster, and you are supposed to steer a cart that is already running full-speed on its course.



He came to announce 'the problem' about two days ago - telling the business advisors in our organisation that his client will be making a case with the police and he 'has now left the site'. A dispute about how much he pays his labourers has errupted and the client is livid. Last night he called to say there is 'a nasty letter' we need to see, asking to fax and discuss it. I postponed to decent office hours and we met this morning with a strong coffee and a tearful grown man - who is very upset for his values being questioned. But, we discovered soon: he signed it, it was agreed and it did not happen. Not a good start...

It had to get worse before it got better. Handing over of tools, materials and documents. Termination. Walk-out of employees. Shouting on the building site. Threats. All of it. Not good.

But then came the second round of coffee in Blakes around the corner, with the second client. A trusting soul, who 'seeks not to do anyone in', but really does not negotiate well for her own interest. Thankfulness for a second chance. It was a fascinating case and we ended of negotiating a contract to be mutually beneficial to 'our' builder and his client. A lot of learning applied right there.

All and all, it was a good day! I laughed when I drove home and I realised, I enjoyed solving the problems of this day...