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I work for a Federal agency in the Washington, D.C. area and have recently been appointed as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative. Those in the biz know us as COTRs (CO-tarz).
I'd like to roll-out the feedback model with my contractors, but I'm not sure how to do it given that the nature of my relationship with my contractors needs to differ from the relationship I have with direct reports who are Federal employees. (For example, they advise we keep an arms-length distance with our contractors, so I've skipped over doing O3s.) Are there any other COTRs in the forums who use the feedback model with their contractors?
- BJ
RE: Giving feedback to contractors
Hi BJ,
I would recommend that you DO conduct the O3's, but follow the PM O3 model, so 15 min for them and 15 for you. The key is that the O3 will build the relationship to a point that you can 'safely' give feedback. Nobody wants any feedback from a stranger. If you are worried about the recommendation to keep the contractors at arms length, call the O3 a 'project status' meeting or similar instead. Don't let dumb recommendations stand in the way of good management. Find a way around them.
Then, follow the project manager feedback model, there is a cast just about that. It might not be the same kind of feedback as you would give a direct report, but there is nothing wrong with communicating about efficient behavior in the future, even with contractors.
Respectfully,
Andy
What he said...
...but I would do PMO3's followed by regular feedback in many cases, versus just peer/pm feedback.
I understand the arm's length thing, but it's really an overreaction to a labor law that is misleading. Bottom line: you can do O3s with your contractors, you're JUST communicating with them about work.
They work great - I've used them with contractors.
Mark
Thank You
Thanks for your advice, Andy and Mark. I've begun holding weekly status meetings, so I'll start roll out the Trinity to them.
- BJ