Month: January 2025

Talk like children

Back in 2021, I worked in a team to simplify the terms and conditions for a global corporate. The principles agreed with the client include: using digits not words for numbers conversational tone ie ‘you’ as provider and ‘we’ as client must or will, instead of shall (due to its

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Balancing priorities

Are you sitting comfortably? Let me tell you a story about a road scheme in Cheshire where I live. The A555 road scheme was finally completed about 3 years ago to provide a link between the A6 and Manchester Airport. Unfortunately, it regularly floods and the road is again shut to traffic. I joked

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Good enough?

When it comes to contracts, quality standards can present some real difficulties. Recently, Gary from Luxembourg challenged whether the clause in my sample letter of intent asking a contractor to use reasonable skill and care was ‘good enough’. Do you define an input or output standard? Or do you leave it to

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Is it complete?

A decade ago we got a supplier in to replace the doors in our house. At one point, Darryl – over 2m tall, burly and holding my housekeys – insisted I write a cheque there and then as final payment. I was too scared to refuse, even though he had not completed

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