The term “the man in the middle” is often used in a bad context speaking about those bad guys fishing or phishing for secret information. But in my today’s posting I want to write about it in a different meaning.

How often we are the man in the middle by doing work and dealing with two different parties at the same time ourself?

Providing services in general has become one of the most important business branches today. But dealing, what is often the case, with two unstructured individuals or organisations (what just double the trouble)  forces a lot of patience and well structured work and structures from any “service provider”.
I have to confess that “even I know it’s wrong” fall in that category of people using their brain as their most important tool to work with. Means I keep things store in my head and have a talent in doing (mostly) the right combinations.

Just I’m sure you know such situations in when both parties just “shovel shit” on you with both hands at the same time, your blood pressure goes up and your caffeine consume is reaching astronomically regions?

This morning I had such a situation. Now it is often not possible to change your customers or other providers you are relying on. What can you do?

Since a while I following an idea I had …. instead of turning grumpy and shout on them …. I just slow down, wait, don’t answer for a while and just await them recognising it! They are used in me doing my job and solving their issues, now doing not (at least for a moment) they start to ask!

And with this attention back on me it is far way easier again to tell, them that it needs a few more information or planning and well structured organising of things to accomplish work for them.

I’m not sure it is the right strategy … just it saves my energy!