Re: Tips on how to talk to SMEs

[Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>]

I've never used bribes to get work done. Ever. I have certainly
brought in goodies - whether homemade pastries or even homebrew - but
never in a working context. I don't recommend it. I've actually seen
and heard something very similar to the following, and just shook my
head.

Writer: "I really need to get 5 minutes of your time."
SME: "What, no cookies?" (turns away)

It's an extreme example, but it happens. You're all there to do a job.
Just get it done. You're all humans, so engage them. Keep the
festivities and goodies as non-project-related surprises, not because
you need something from them, but because you just felt like sharing.

On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 10:01 AM, Dan Goldstein
<DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com> wrote:
> In my experience, all of Bill Swallow's tips were spot on. However, I
> feel obliged to defend the Brownie Method. I myself can be easily bribed
> with dessert, and so can most of my friends and colleagues.

-- 
Bill Swallow

Twitter: @techcommdood
Blog: http://techcommdood.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood
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