An office worker walks into his lunchroom and asks, ‘How many surrealists does it take to change a light globe?’
His colleague responds with, “I don’t know,’ (already shaking her head).
‘Fish,’ replies the man.
…
Mia looked at Tony, unimpressed, ‘What!? That doesn’t even answer the question.’
Tony smiled and shrugged.
Naira, browsing the newspaper up until this point, called out, ‘I thought the answer was two. One to change the light globe and the other to fill the bath with coloured water.’
Mia laughed. ‘Now that’s a good answer!’
Meanwhile, another team member, Dan, was engaged in a significant meeting with their common boss. A significant meeting because their ongoing employment, and possibly the future of the organisation, was at stake.
Dan had chosen not to answer the question he’d been asked, and the meeting was at a crossroads.
‘…I’m not sure how we can wind the Next Level project back. Sorry,’ he’d stated calmly and clearly.
George may have been at a weak point. In just four days he’d finalised an out of court legal settlement, constructed a major process improvement project, and then communicated it to his executive team as a group and then individually. And Dan was the final individual.
‘There was a lot I liked about the project that was positive,’ accepted George. ‘I think in the end it was just too risky and the others in the team are happy to let it go.’
‘Happy to let it go?’ questioned Dan, still calmly.
‘Well, it’s a leaders call because it will be difficult to tell what might have been. Clearly, we’ve taken too many risks recently and we’ve paid the price.’
Dan continued calmly, though his frustration was building.
‘Managing the risks is not negotiable,’ Dan agreed. ‘The team’s built so much momentum on the project. I don’t see how it can be wound back. I’m really sorry.’
George’s posture shifted. It was so subtle the change may have been a candidate for a “Spot the Difference” graphic. ‘Well, we’re going ahead with the first phase,’ he added, almost as if it was unquestioned.
Dan was hanging onto his strategy by his fingernails at this point and deferentially responded. ‘How can the team stop it there when the plan was an ongoing program?’
More silence.
‘How about we review it after the pilot as we’d always planned?’, George offered.
‘Same criteria?’ checked Dan.
‘Same criteria,’ his boss confirmed.
And there it was. The project was back on. At least for now, and that’s all Dan needed. He just needed to maintain focus until the meeting finished.
…or they were interrupted by Patricia.
‘Sorry to interrupt George…Dan,’ she said, acknowledging the two men.
Then turning back to her boss, ‘George, Omar’s asked if he could see you. He’s about five minutes away.’
‘That’s fine Patricia,’ George responded, ‘We’re about done anyway.’
Dan saw his opportunity and quietly rose from his chair with a polite. ‘Yeah, that’s fine. Thanks George.’ And made his escape.
Keen to pass on the good news, Dan didn’t notice Calvin walk into George’s office only a few moments later.
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