Comments on: How does an angry analyst deal with difficult customers? Five tips that work for me http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/ The original Mr Angry... Finding something to be angry about every day of the year Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:44:03 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: vaniviswanathan http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-37222 vaniviswanathan Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:12:24 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-37222 Dear Mr.Angry, Love your article and enjoyed the comments and your replies. You do have a great sense of humor and that definitely helps! I wish I had read your article a couple of years ago when I badly needed it. I did not yell, choke or call anyone dumb. I just quit my job since the stress levels broke the stress-meter at home and the child at home began feeling it. It was very similar to your selling the product before building it situation and also using flashy prototypes to lure customers. Added to the situation was a lunatic office manager who was also HR personnel, Project manager and kitchen manager. Anyway, loved your tips and thinking of using and implementing them in my next position. Thanks a bunch! Dear Mr.Angry,

Love your article and enjoyed the comments and your replies. You do have a great sense of humor and that definitely helps!

I wish I had read your article a couple of years ago when I badly needed it. I did not yell, choke or call anyone dumb. I just quit my job since the stress levels broke the stress-meter at home and the child at home began feeling it.

It was very similar to your selling the product before building it situation and also using flashy prototypes to lure customers. Added to the situation was a lunatic office manager who was also HR personnel, Project manager and kitchen manager.

Anyway, loved your tips and thinking of using and implementing them in my next position. Thanks a bunch!

]]> By: Mr Angry http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-7138 Mr Angry Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:10:06 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-7138 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Oh my god that sounds horrible! I suggest drinking heavily. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Oh my god that sounds horrible! I suggest drinking heavily.

]]> By: LornaJane http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-7133 LornaJane Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:06:45 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-7133 I know the importance of controlling my temper in the face of utter stupidity, I really do. But when it hits, its still a monumental effort to not yell "what do you think you're doing, you moron?" at the person involved. The next few weeks are going to see me getting a good workout on this particular skill as we're just rolling out a new fault system. Now to be fair I've only seen about four bug trackers in my entire life and they were all free and open-source, so I'm not an industry expert. But ours requires IE7, opens all links in new windows, has no configurable menus or reports, and operates entirely by means of a context menu that appears when you hover with the mouse over different parts of the screen. Still, if I can keep my temper then hopefully it is good practice for the next time something like this comes along - and that's a big contribution to my professional development! I know the importance of controlling my temper in the face of utter stupidity, I really do. But when it hits, its still a monumental effort to not yell “what do you think you’re doing, you moron?” at the person involved.

The next few weeks are going to see me getting a good workout on this particular skill as we’re just rolling out a new fault system. Now to be fair I’ve only seen about four bug trackers in my entire life and they were all free and open-source, so I’m not an industry expert. But ours requires IE7, opens all links in new windows, has no configurable menus or reports, and operates entirely by means of a context menu that appears when you hover with the mouse over different parts of the screen. Still, if I can keep my temper then hopefully it is good practice for the next time something like this comes along – and that’s a big contribution to my professional development!

]]> By: Mr Angry http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6974 Mr Angry Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:13:37 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6974 That's a very good point. It's hard to maintain this level of professionalism sometimes but it rarely helps if you don't. That’s a very good point. It’s hard to maintain this level of professionalism sometimes but it rarely helps if you don’t.

]]> By: moonflake http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6930 moonflake Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:21:09 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6930 There's another point: don't play up the fact that the clients are idiots in front of the dev team. The last thing you need is to fester resentment among the developers for the clients. I've made that mistake, and it lead to the lead developer walking off the project because he just didn't feel that he could work with such stupid clients. Admittedly, I full agreed with him and wished I could do the same... but you should never actually say that. The developers do need to be shielded from the bullshit to some extent in order to do their job to the best of their ability. Sympathise, yes. Empathise, certainly. But much like in the army, complain up the chain of command, never down. There’s another point: don’t play up the fact that the clients are idiots in front of the dev team. The last thing you need is to fester resentment among the developers for the clients. I’ve made that mistake, and it lead to the lead developer walking off the project because he just didn’t feel that he could work with such stupid clients. Admittedly, I full agreed with him and wished I could do the same… but you should never actually say that. The developers do need to be shielded from the bullshit to some extent in order to do their job to the best of their ability.

Sympathise, yes. Empathise, certainly. But much like in the army, complain up the chain of command, never down.

]]> By: Mr Angry http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6912 Mr Angry Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:38:59 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6912 Robert: Nicely put. At least where I'm working now, they're willing to shoot "the elephant in the room" if it gets out of hand. An organisation that can't kill bad projects is in a lot of trouble. Tom: I hate it when people get sucked in by that crap! Does your product work? Do people want it? The "wow" factor is a given if you have that but you can't polish a turd. Nazli: If there was a book called "Sexy IT", I wouldn't be in it. And I can definitely identify with your out of control email situation- one must always be cautious what one commits to meail. engtech: I agree. Some people just need to be choked :) Robert: Nicely put. At least where I’m working now, they’re willing to shoot “the elephant in the room” if it gets out of hand. An organisation that can’t kill bad projects is in a lot of trouble.

Tom: I hate it when people get sucked in by that crap! Does your product work? Do people want it? The “wow” factor is a given if you have that but you can’t polish a turd.

Nazli: If there was a book called “Sexy IT”, I wouldn’t be in it. And I can definitely identify with your out of control email situation- one must always be cautious what one commits to meail.

engtech: I agree. Some people just need to be choked :)

]]> By: engtech http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6902 engtech Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:26:19 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6902 One thing I think is missing is the "bitching factor". When you complain bitterly about the ignorance you have to put up with, it gets back to them, and you might as well have strangled them in the first place. :) One thing I think is missing is the “bitching factor”. When you complain bitterly about the ignorance you have to put up with, it gets back to them, and you might as well have strangled them in the first place. :)

]]> By: Bringing the gap between business and technology « //engtech http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6900 Bringing the gap between business and technology « //engtech Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:16:54 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6900 [...] Fellow WP blogger Mr. Angry has an excellent post on bridging the gap between the business wants and  technological realities. The best products always come from people who are passionately working on something they will actually use, but that doesn’t put food in the fridge. Instead we’re left with two different camps — the People Who Know the Problem and People Who Can Solve the Problem. They speak different languages, and the act of translating is fraught with danger, frustration and attempted murder charges. Mr. Angry gives the following 5 steps: [...] [...] Fellow WP blogger Mr. Angry has an excellent post on bridging the gap between the business wants and  technological realities. The best products always come from people who are passionately working on something they will actually use, but that doesn’t put food in the fridge. Instead we’re left with two different camps — the People Who Know the Problem and People Who Can Solve the Problem. They speak different languages, and the act of translating is fraught with danger, frustration and attempted murder charges. Mr. Angry gives the following 5 steps: [...]

]]> By: Nazli http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6899 Nazli Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:05:03 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6899 Mr Angry - how about a book, "Sexy IT"? Actually your 5 points were very helpful - and can be used in any professional environment. Talking of Sales and IT - I know from personal and professional experience that this combintion can be infuriating at times. The mechanics and the money ... This week I have been reading up a lot on effectiveness in communication and it does take a great deal of discipline and character. On Thursday i had an aggravating e-mail miscommincation that was then braodcast (inadvertently) by someone and ... you can only imagine ... Take good care :-) Nazli Mr Angry – how about a book, “Sexy IT”?

Actually your 5 points were very helpful – and can be used in any professional environment.
Talking of Sales and IT – I know from personal and professional experience that this combintion can be infuriating at times. The mechanics and the money …

This week I have been reading up a lot on effectiveness in communication and it does take a great deal of discipline and character. On Thursday i had an aggravating e-mail miscommincation that was then braodcast (inadvertently) by someone and … you can only imagine …

Take good care :-)
Nazli

]]> By: tom l http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6895 tom l Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:45:34 +0000 http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2006/10/16/how-does-an-angry-analyst-deal-with-difficult-customers-five-tips-that-work-for-me/#comment-6895 the 'sexiness' reminds me of the most recent failed startup i worked at. they had developed a prototype cellphone app that combined 'presence' with 'voice' and 'integrated conversation logging' (your im's, emails, phone calls, voice messages are all organized by person, not by time. big whoop). anyway, they went to a trade show and came back with the startling insight that the app did not have "a wow factor". so they redesigned the entire UI from scratch. one year later, still no customers, running out of money, but at least they thought they had a friggin' wow factor. the ’sexiness’ reminds me of the most recent failed startup i worked at. they had developed a prototype cellphone app that combined ‘presence’ with ‘voice’ and ‘integrated conversation logging’ (your im’s, emails, phone calls, voice messages are all organized by person, not by time. big whoop). anyway, they went to a trade show and came back with the startling insight that the app did not have “a wow factor”. so they redesigned the entire UI from scratch. one year later, still no customers, running out of money, but at least they thought they had a friggin’ wow factor.

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