One Executive's Story- Chapter 3: The Numbers Never Lie

To read Chapters 1 & 2 please see the sidebar.  

 

Nathan glanced around the suits and serious faces around the boardroom table. Almost all were in their late forties to early sixties. Out of the ten, all but two were men. Nathan scanned each face. Holly, his young techno-assistant, was on standby in case the Powerpoint presentation failed to present.

 

As Nathan talked his way through the presentation, the numbers on screen offered a dismal picture. The product was a loser. Millions had been spent to get this product launched and much effort put into advertising through the usual media outlets. Clearly the product failed to catch the imagination of its target market: Gen Y and X.

 

”So ladies and gentlemen, our results are not what they could be. I believe that we’ve over-estimated consumer interest in this product.”

John, Chair of the Board, leaned forward. “Nathan could it be that you seriously under-estimated what it takes to market this type of product?

“Perhaps but John, you may recall that we did request more staff to beef up the market research needed to keep up with changes in the marketplace. The request wasn’t approved by the Board. Perhaps, now is a good time to revisit that decision. “

 

He paused for effect.

 

“We’re stretched pretty thin. Most of my staff is young, below thirty - they just don’t have the experience we need. Not only that, they can’t hack the pace... they bail out at the first sign of hard work.”

 

With this last comment Nathan felt like he had hit a home run. Their workplace was grappling with the Gen Y workers. They did things quickly… way too quickly. Everyone knows that things done well take time.

 

Nathan glanced at Holly, who in turn, looked sideways having heard this assessment more than once. She was fully aware he was referring to the majority of his team, including her.

 

John looked away from Nathan to scrutinizing each person’s face. Some reflect a glimmer of empathy for Nathan; some remain stoic. Others have an oddly smug look on their face. He turned toward Nathan.

 

”Nathan, the Board is concerned about management's capacity to meet today's current market challenges. We need results and we need innovation.  There are serious concerns around this table about management's capacity to deliver either.  We've been hoping that you and your management team could make the necessary adjustments.  You've always delivered - until now, and we don't have a lot of time.”

 

He paused for a moment.  

”Our younger workers may be bailing because they know the only way is to innovate, and they don't have confidence that management is up to the task. In that case, who could blame them?”

 

Nathan felt stunned but tried not to show it. Confusion boiled inside and accompanied by a sense that everything he knew how to do, no longer had value. John looked directly at Nathan.

 

“Nathan, I want you to take a good hard look at what you have tabled with us today.”

 

With that he gave Nathan a perfunctory glance. Nathan knew he’d been dismissed. Gathering his notes, he walked slowly out down the hall into his office closing the door behind him.

 

When the office door opened the next time, Nathan had his coat on, a brief case in hand and a tired worn look on his face. Leaving with only a few people taking note, he stepped into the familiar elevator watching the numbers as it descended the thirty-two floors to the ground. Walking out the door, he aimed straight for the park bench where he did his best thinking. Lost in space, he sat down staring ahead blankly, slowly lowering his head until it rested in his hands. He looked up to see the lake, geese and kids playing, with the office towers in the background. As he rose to head home, the level of his fatigue hit him full on. He felt like he was ninety-years old.

 

When he walked through the door his twelve-year old son Trevor stared in dramatic shock.

“Wow! Dad! This is the first time I can remember you being home early in ages. Is everything OK? Are you feeling alright?”

”Yeah ... fine.” He had never been a good liar.

”So, will you play ball with me?”

His five-year old bright eyed daughter Shae looked up from her place beside Sami. Smiling and with a peaceful look on her face, she looked at her sister and simultaneously they got up, left the table and bounced upstairs leaving the boys to their baseball.

 

Claudia attempted to intercept. “Nathan I need to talk to you about Shae.”

 

Ignoring her he grabbed his glove and signaled to Trevor to keep moving.

 

“Yeah...catch sounds good.” And they escaped through the door ahead of any other expectations.  

 

Stay tuned... Chapter 4 next Friday..

 

©2009 Dawna Jones. All Rights Reserved. Twitter name: @EPDawna