Sunday, October 14, 2018
Working With a Demanding Account Team
Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about being pulled into a bid with one of the most demanding account teams, with a small role for me, 7:30am calls, and a phone call chasing me when I deliberately skipped the first one. I have rewritten it into advice on working with a demanding account team.
After a short-deadline bid was dropped, I was put on another with an account team known across the business as the most demanding. I tried to find a way out, ran out of ideas, and had to take it on. On the first day they described a presentation for the client's top leadership, where my part was small. They also set calls at 7:30am, when I usually woke at nine. Frustrated, I skipped the first call on purpose, and one of the account team rang me to say everyone was waiting. I joined, with little interest in what was being said.
Why are some account teams so demanding?
Big clients, senior audiences and revenue targets. A presentation to a client's leadership carries high stakes, and the account team feels every risk. Demanding is often another word for anxious.
How do you work well with a demanding team?
- Clarify your part early: exactly which slides or answers you own.
- Give updates before they ask: a short mail each day stops the chasing.
- Agree call times: if 7:30am does not work, say so in advance and offer an alternative.
- Deliver early: nothing calms an anxious team more.
Is skipping a call a good way to protest?
No. It delays everyone, and the team remembers it. A polite message the day before, asking whether you are needed or suggesting a later slot, achieves the same aim without damage.
What if you cannot get off the bid?
Then treat it as a chance to be seen by senior people. Doing a small part very well on a high-profile bid is often noticed more than a large part on a routine one.
What would I do differently?
Join the first call, ask about my part, and negotiate the timings openly. Resentment made the bid feel longer than it was.