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Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about scheduling joint calls with two delivery experts who, it turned out, had ego issues with each other, avoided speaking directly and complained about each other to me separately. I have rewritten it into advice on managing a conflict between two experts on your bid.

I had promised to own the bid, including scheduling calls with the difficult new expert. To keep things smooth, I set up calls with him and with the expert I had a good rapport with. It backfired. The new expert spoke only to me and ignored the other, who did the same. I was the only person on the calls with no idea what was going on. After several calls and mails, I realised they had an ego clash, and neither would listen to me. They argued on every call and complained about each other in separate calls with me.

Why put two clashing experts on one call?

Usually because you do not know about the clash yet. Once you do, joint calls make it worse, and the bid pays the price.

How do you manage a clash you cannot fix?

• Divide the work: give each expert a clearly separate part.
• Meet separately: and combine their inputs yourself.
• Bring them together only for decisions: with a written agenda.
• Stay neutral: do not repeat one expert's complaints to the other.

When should you escalate a clash?

When it threatens quality or the deadline. Tell your manager what is happening, factually, and ask for one of the experts to be designated the final decision-maker on the solution.

How do you protect yourself?

Record decisions and inputs by mail. If the bid goes wrong, a clear record of who provided what shows that you coordinated responsibly.

What does the experience teach?

That coordinating people is part of presales work, not a distraction from it. Knowing who works well together is valuable knowledge to pass on to the next bid lead.

Can a clash between experts be repaired?

Sometimes, but not by the bid lead in the middle of a deadline. Their managers are better placed to address it after the bid. Mention it in your end-of-bid notes so the pairing is avoided or handled next time.

Keep reading

• Asked for Overnight Changes After a Client Call?
• The Team Wants a New Approach Days Before the Deadline
• A Same-Day Deadline Lands While You Are on Leave

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote that, after trying several fuel brands in my Ford EcoSport, Bharat Petroleum seemed to give me the best mileage, and compared the EcoSport's low running costs with the high maintenance bills of my earlier Hyundai i20. I have rewritten it into a guide to fuel brands, mileage and running costs.

By that point I had driven my EcoSport about 27,000 km and spent around Rs 8,000 on maintenance, including filters, oil changes and punctures. My earlier Hyundai i20 had cost me far more in maintenance over the years I owned it, and I eventually sold it through Ford at a price I was happy with. In my experience, Bharat Petroleum fuel gave the EcoSport better mileage than the other brands I tried. I also felt that cars had become a way to show off wealth, when they should simply be a comfortable way to get somewhere.

Does the fuel brand really change mileage?

Regular petrol and diesel from the main oil companies in India are made to the same national standard, so large differences between brands are unlikely. What does vary is how much fuel is actually dispensed, fuel quality at a particular pump, and how you drive. My observation was personal and not a controlled test.

How do you measure mileage properly?

• Fill the tank to full: reset the trip meter.
• Drive normally: until the tank is well down.
• Fill to full again: divide the distance by the litres added.
• Repeat several times: at the same pump, before comparing brands.

Are premium fuels worth it?

Mostly for engines designed for higher-octane fuel. For ordinary engines, the benefit is usually small compared with the extra cost. Check the owner's manual.

What drives maintenance costs?

Service intervals, parts prices, the brand's service network and how the car is driven. Keep records of every service; they help when selling. Ford stopped making cars in India in 2022, so owners now rely on its remaining service support and independent garages, which is worth checking before buying a used Ford.

Is a car a tool or a status symbol?

That is a personal choice. Buying the car you need rather than the one others expect usually saves a great deal over its life.

Keep reading

• Ford's Chennai Restart Changes Nothing for EcoSport Owners
• Repair or Replace an Ageing Car? How to Decide
• Used EV Resale In India: Nobody Can Price The Battery