‘Okay, let’s bring it back down everyone. Yes, it’s frustrating’. Calvin was facilitating a meeting while they waited for the boss to arrive.
Emotions were high.
The group quietened enough for him to continue, ‘We know George is under pressure having just settled the Mardonis claim, and we’re copping some of the runoff. Overall, our numbers are around the mark, and the initial interest in Next Level is very good. Actually, it’s really good.’
Dan chipped in, ‘I’m sorry Calvin, if we have to tell someone, in their first week, that we’ve lost funding for their role…it’s pretty demoralising for everyone. I’m very grateful to Charis for stepping in. I just wish it wasn’t necessary.’
Calvin, relieved to hear the moderate tone, related, ‘I know you all want me to remind you how I had to fill out a form to get my first pencil when I started here.’ The group was too polite to groan out loud at this point, so he continued, ‘George was clear that this should only be temporary.’
To which another in the group spoke up, ‘I thought it was a duty of care initiative. Why would the changes be temporary?’
The team had seen its challenges, though mostly from a lack of direction. The current incident was a threat to their newfound passion and purpose.
Then George walked in.
‘Sorry everyone, got caught up’, he said as he strode to the table’s head.
Handing a pile of paper to Mia, immediately to his left, he instructed, ‘Take one and pass it on’.
Then he began his pitch.
‘Firstly, let me apologise again for the unexpected changes this week. Most of you are aware that we’ve been subject to a particularly unpleasant attack. Certainly an attack in the legal sense. It’s made me realise that we need to be a lot more careful about some things.’
‘I’ve spent most of the last twenty-four hours working on a plan to help us move forward’, he smiled, an uncomfortable smile. ‘And this is a draft to give you an idea where we’re going.’
The room was now very quiet, so he continued.
‘Our reputation is our moral licence. It’s the values we stand for, it’s what I was called to serve all those years ago, and that has been my privilege to share with you. What does it mean to steward that reputation?’
And for twenty-five minutes George laid out his plan.
A plan for more. A plan for more decisions to be channelled through George. A plan for more approval levels. A plan for more staff appointed by George. A plan for more SDP. A plan for more of the same.
And it was a plan for less. A plan for less delegation of authority. A plan for less freedom. A plan for less Next Level. A plan for less risk.
A plan for less trust.
At the end of his presentation George almost couldn’t stop himself asking for questions and comments. However, his discernment was that this was not a helpful approach.
Instead, he concluded with, ‘I appreciate that some of this may be a surprise and is perhaps seen as a backwards step. I feel positive about it, but I’ve had longer to think it through. Rather than engaging in conversation now, I’ll be catching up with senior leaders in the next few days and that will inform our implementation.’
The room emptied in a subdued manner after he’d expressed his closing thanks.
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