It was Ten am and the group of businessmen sat around the swish boardroom table. They were a diverse bunch; all were powerful within the organization, all considered themselves as successful. Each and every one of them knew and competed to a degree with each other. Not all were of the same company rank. The top boss, the Company CEO; the lowest a man with a reputation as being the best troubleshooter the company ever had. There was quite a big range of salaries between the highest paid, the CEO and the lowest, the man in charge of Human Affairs. It was significant that this powerful group were all men. There were a number of women who out ranked five or six amongst the fifteen assembled. Quite a few had noted this fact.
The troubleshooter smiled to himself. 'What trouble had the company got itself into this time? It was unusual for him to be present when the shit hit the fan, The CEO usually called him in to get the shit cleaned away.'
The CEO called the group to order. "Gentlemen this is going to be a long meeting so please feel free to avail yourselves of the facilities when-ever you feel the need and despite the time of day the Bar is open. Now before any of you get the wrong idea..." The CEO looked straight at me as he said this. "We are not in trouble, indeed we are doing so well we are going to have a think tank session. A brainstorming session to analyze just why and how we became so successful and how to get better at it."
"I have been monitoring the company performance and as I said we have been extraordinarily successful, but the data I have been monitoring has dropped a notch or two over the last two months so I have decided to find out why and fix it."
There were looks passed around the table and not a few groans. Our CEO was known for his team building sessions, but this was by far the largest group I had ever attended. It was usually less than eight. What was the old man up to? Hell, he was only two years older than I was and younger than some, yet he was always 'The Old Man' while somehow I had earned the title of 'Dear Boy' a nickname everyone in the room had used more than once. A name for the life of me I never understood. I had a sneaking suspicion that I was about to get some insight from this session.
My mind rejoined the speech as the CEO began to wind up his introduction. "I am going to introduce our facilitator and from that moment on we all absolutely equal. Reports upon our performances will be made available to us as a group, me included. Oh, one last item the door will be locked for the duration. As I said there is food and drink available and I propose to start with a stiff scotch."
He went to the wet bar and poured himself a good three fingers of a good malt scotch. "Any one else want a drink before I introduce our tormentor?"
Four other executives joined him and he let them pour their own drinks. He returned to the table. This consisted of several smaller tables. "Now we have to rearrange the furniture round the three sides. A table and two chairs then another table. I recommend that you remember where you are sitting at least for the first hour. You are not expected to take notes, and I am told there is no test, now, or later, on what we learn, but I have been told that some of us will not make it to the next session whenever that occurs and no I do not have a schedule, it depends upon our performance I am told."
We had been moving the tables around as he spoke, he sat in the middle of the back wall and waited till we settled down in the new arrangement. He had pulled my sleeve and I found myself sitting next to him, a situation noted by more than a few.
"Ok gentlemen my watch says we have just two minutes and a few seconds. Any Questions?"
A lot of voices were raised, but the theme seemed to be about performance assessment and the revelations.
The Old Man, waved his hand and silence of a sort descended. "Yes performance will be made available to all of us, a group score if you like; it should be considered privileged information. And be restricted to attendees only."
He was about to say more when there was a sharp rapping at the door. He stood up as the door opened and a young woman immaculately dressed!
Stunningly beautiful, dressed in a dress straight from a high fashion cat walk. "Gentlemen please welcome Victoria!" From the roar of appreciation and loud clapping, it was obvious that we all recognized her.
The Old Man sat down as Victoria shut the door double locked it, bent down and pushed the card key under the door.
She moved forward and stopped midway between the last occupied chairs; there was about ten feet between the rows and she was about fifteen feet from me and the old Man.
She waited until the greeting had died down smiling round the room and showing her tongue at her lips, keeping the gloss moist.
I noticed she had no purse, no document case, no teaching aids and apart from the bar and fridge which was now behind her there seemed to be no teaching aids available. 'Just what sort of think tank session was this?' I mused.
Victoria began to speak, "Gentlemen as you know this is a group assessment session. You are all going to be assessed and you will all know how your assessment deferrers from everyone else's and there are a number of criteria that will be used. Before you ask I am not going to tell you what they are!" Her smile swept the room like a high-powered laser. She continued; we were already her captive audience.
"Now here are a few facts. That door will not be opened until I give the signal, which will probably be after four pm. I hope you all left pagers and mobile phones at your desk and that your secretaries know you are not contactable today!" People were nodding and a few murmured yeses. One voice was heard to say
"Shit!" and Cliff the HR man hurriedly turned off his phone.
Victoria held out her hand and glared at him. He got the message, sheepishly rose to his feet, and handed the mobile over.
"Not a good start Cliff!" She said. We all gasped as she dropped the device to the floor and stomped on it. She kicked the bigger pieces aside. "Come pick the rest up Cliff!"
Cliff virtually crawled to the debris and on hands and knees; almost touching Victoria began picking up the small shards. "Anyone else forget the instructions." I felt fortunate that 'The Old Man' had reminded me. I had worn my pager and mobile absolutely everywhere for years. I felt uncomfortable without them.
