I am a confrontational and strongly opinionated person. Many times, this combination of traits often land me in many interpersonal conflicts. Just few days ago, another conflict involving me and a colleague (who is also the project manager) arose.
At the meeting table, the project manager presented the quotations for a concert we are working on and most of us at the meeting thought that the figures he shared are absurdly high. Sensing something amiss, I requested for the breakdown of the concert cost and realized he was using vendors who were giving him ridiculous quotes. When questioned about his refusal to engage other more affordable vendors that is of comparable standards, he gave a limp excuse: He is more comfortable working with this current group of vendors.
When I offered to provide him with my vendors who gave lower quotes, he promptly refused without any reasons and abruptly changed the subject of discussion.
In my point of view, both parties have to be reasonable if they wish to resolve any interpersonal conflict. Ignoring a conflict like how this project manager did will not help in solving the problem. It however led me to believe that this project manager has another secret agenda for his actions. In my opinion, this project manager just wanted to use his own contacts to further his own career in this industry and I completely disagree with his work ethics.
What further aggravated me was the fact that this project manager went back on his words. I had engaged him for a private discussion months ago about a possible deficit and he had promised to take up full responsibilities if this happens. However, during the meeting, he blatantly wanted to change the ticket pricing from the previously agreed SGD$15.00 to SGD$20.00 to buffer the additional cost incurred. He dismissed this change as negligible and that the program lineup is justifiable for this hike. To me, this was a mercenary move. To build his own empire, he passed the stint of the absurd quotation to the organizing committee and the preposterous cost to the consumers.
I came to a conclusion that night that not all interpersonal conflicts can be resolved. If the other party is not receptive to the opinions of others and wants things his own way, there is little we can do.
As such, till this project ends, I will continue to follow my project manager's directives. (He is afterall my boss in this project) Personally, I will continue to do what I believe in - Dealing with everyone I meet fairly.
This project manager is still a good friend of mine. However after this incident, it made me realized we'd be better off staying as good friends.
After reading this entry, if you were in my shoe, what would you have done? :P
Also, please don't be intimidated by me. I'm still a harmless, friendly guy! Do add me in Facebook using the link at the right hand side of this blog and anyone wants to do the ES2007S project with me? :D
