Cowboy Caleb the liberal arts, grown-up stuff & random mischief

The High Road

Today I laid my foot down at work.

For far too long, I have trusted my superiors to ‘do the right thing’. Every other night, we have conference calls where I give updates on critical roadblocks. Last night, I realized that they didn’t understand (because they did not want to listen) and wanted me to push things out the door that would ultimately be detrimental to the business.

“You severely underestimate the importance of this issue” I exclaimed.

The next day on another call with the same group of people PLUS our vendors, I made it spine-chillingly clear how we are going to proceed in the next 3 months.

• When an issue is identified as critical, it is because it either increases staff’s existing workload, reduces service levels or hurts the business. Such issues cannot be trivialized and waived aside for the sake of meeting milestones.
• Anybody who does not agree with the point above can have my job. The first thing they need to do in my position is to convince people to have their workload increased, accept inferior service levels and their earnings slashed. So please shut the hell up and agree to resolve the roadblock.
• Anybody who says a particular roadblock cannot be cleared must provide justification. Just the word ‘No’ will not be enough. Provide reasons like cost, system constraints and resource constrants. We have a right to know why you cannot clear the roadblock.
• We have more than 7000 people being affected by this decision. Let’s not behave like we’re a 50-man company.
• Everything is to have a deadline and somebody assigned responsibility to see it through. There is no point in discussing roadblocks if there is no owner.

At the end of the call, there was a silence. I know I had either scared the shite out of everybody or possibly pissed off some of them. At least I know my bosses were pissed at me.

But I don’t care and I’m not afraid or reprisals. You know why?

My ex-boss (more than 20 years in my current company before he left) told me this - always take the high road. I am taking the high road.

What that means is always do the right thing because nobody will blame you later. This may always seem to be a foolish thing to do (you may even need a lot of courage) but at the end of the day, the person who takes the high road always has his name cleared.

most of the time, u want things done correctly, u have to do it your own way.

Well, I feel you have done the right thing! It sounds like you needed to state the facts and to make sure all parties heard you, the project team and the people who are being affected by this situation. Now, it will take more discussions off-line from that phone call but keep at the same points. My only other recommendation should you not be heard is to make a decision regarding what to do then - there may come a point where you need to be silent, let the team know you have tried and then ‘move on’ - in more ways than one! GOOD luck sir!

all the best and i’ll keep the advice of the taking the high road in mind.

Heroes die young…

Do remember to have everything in black and white. I was just told to tender my resignation (together with my boss). When the CEO and the CFO fights, someone is bound to die. In this case, my CFO, and of course myself…his side kick.
Someone remind me not to get myself in a position so close to the top ever again!

arrival of the hulk… :P

A man who stands up to what he believes in earns the respect of everybody around him. So what if heroes die young/people - often with too much air in the head - are pissed? Things that ought to be done should be done.