2014 Spring Newsletter

Last but not least, youhave toprepare toweanyourpaper-pushing, pencil and tape-pullingdependent field staff from “thewaywe’vealwaysdone it”. Conventionalwisdomandmanagement gurus tell you to introduce the tablet and lasermeasurer (yeswegot those too) bygettingbuy-inetc. etc. Here’s what I can tell you, give thema choice: “ChangeorDie”. No, not literally (at least not right this sec- ondand certainlynot in theoffice lest youhave todo extrapaperwork). Anyway remind them it is how theworldworks. Mostwill behappy towant tobeapart of something , particularlywhenyou fol- low throughandmake them feel special. Field staff seems to likepizza. For those that insist onnot changing, explain to them that youwill pay them$1.00 for eachphysical parcel inspection that theydo as longas it complieswith the statutes. Tell them that youare the judgeof that. And theyhave topay for their gas anduse their car andhave theirown insuranceandbebondedanduse their cameraand theirmeasuring tape. And theirpaper. And theirpencils. Somewill stillwant to jumpon that. You shouldhave the resignation letter andnew contract readyand take thedeal. Remember, theydon’t havea learning curveand they cannot possiblydo 10.1perhour for8hours to complywith the forth- comingStateof theUnionminimumwageproffering. Anyway,wepaidavendor$1.00perparcel to do just that, andno, noneof the individual contractorsdidnear80perday. Yes,wehave tried just about everythinghere. Another true story. You should figureabout a sixmonth transition for your field staff tomove to the tablet nomatterwhat youaredoingnow. Yes, therewill begnashingof teeth, complaining, perhaps even threats. Remem- ber thepizza. A satiated fieldperson is ahappy fieldperson. Youalsoneedanexpert that “knows the data” so that staff canaskquestions andbegiven realworkinganswers. And (figuratively) holdhands

(Continuedonpage 16)

15

Spring2014Newsletterof theFCIAAO