My nerves are still shot this morning.

[NuclearNed]

*The story below is true, but intentionally vague in parts.

Last night I was part of an organizational board meeting. I am the chairman of perhaps the most significant committee in this organization. Our committee is in charge of providing vision and direction for the organization. For the last few years, it has been noted that our organization is in decline and needs some new focus, lest the organization degrades to the point that it ceases to be.

Last night I presented my committee's Plan for redirecting the organization. A big chunk of the Plan was some restructuring and eliminating an important part of the organization that is near and dear to the hearts of the old guard (who made up about 70%-80% of last night's attendees). To say the least, the Plan was not very popular and I spent a good hour answering loaded questions and defending the Plan. Since I am the chair of my committee, the perception seemed to be that it was all my idea, and some of the questions seemed to get rather pointed and personal.

To say the least, I left the meeting as a mass of frayed nerves. And I don't feel much better today.

 

[Argo]

I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

 

[PingSpike]

People hate change because it lights a fire under their ass. They'd rather watch the organization slowly rot into bankruptcy then be forced to learn anything new. I've only been in the business world a couple years and I've learned that already.

 

[Atomicus]

I would've presented to the committee which WON'T be getting the boot and then just tell Human Resources to do their job and have a little chat with the people that WILL get the boot. :frown:

 

[woowoo]

I had fun in scouts too.....

 

[CraigRT]

ouch, that's quite unfortunate you had to do that... but what else can you do in a situation like that? I'm not sure I can offer advice because I would probably feel the same way.

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: woowoo
I had fun in scouts too.....

yeah good times 😀

 

[skace]

I had something good to say here.... but figured I'd get in trouble and erased it 🙁

Needless to say, sometimes I think of saying things but then opt not to because of the pre-concieved backlash that might have occured, likely to what happened to you last night.

 

[pyonir]

The other guys in NAMBLA weren't as responsive as you thought they'd be, eh?

 

[RagingBITCH]

The more people are resistant to change, the less they'll get done. Bottom line is that their organization will go down the tubes without this change. I guess you could try making that point again and again if they ask you.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
People hate change because it lights a fire under their ass. They'd rather watch the organization slowly rot into bankruptcy then be forced to learn anything new. I've only been in the business world a couple years and I've learned that already.

I have to say I like that logic. But then again, you have no IDEA what I've had to learn in the past year as our organization "changed"

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
The more people are resistant to change, the less they'll get done. Bottom line is that their organization will go down the tubes without this change. I guess you could try making that point again and again if they ask you.

I completely agree.

By the way, it was grudgingly acknowledged that we would implement the Plan. But now I am left wondering what type of backlash I am going to receive. Some of those old guys will never ever forget that I am the one who killed their pet project.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

In this case, my committee feels like the Plan is the best option for the bottom line in the long term. But the Plan treads on and eliminates pieces of a cherished and established tradition.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

In this case, my committee feels like the Plan is the best option for the bottom line in the long term. But the Plan treads on and eliminates pieces of a cherished and established tradition.

This is the biggest problem I have found with this type of stuff. The "old blood" doesn't want to give up on the things they implemented. It's hard to admit that while your idea was good and beneficial 10 years ago, someone has cooked up a better idea, and if you care about your organization as much as you claim, you should step aside. It's not personal.

I see it all the time in my community theater dealings. 2 or 3 board members refuse to permit the group to move in a new direction - they want to cling to the old ideas in the face of lagging ticket sales and rising costs.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

When within the law, the company's bottom line is always the right thing to do, IMO.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

In this case, my committee feels like the Plan is the best option for the bottom line in the long term. But the Plan treads on and eliminates pieces of a cherished and established tradition.

This is the biggest problem I have found with this type of stuff. The "old blood" doesn't want to give up on the things they implemented. It's hard to admit that while your idea was good and beneficial 10 years ago, someone has cooked up a better idea, and if you care about your organization as much as you claim, you should step aside. It's not personal.

I see it all the time in my community theater dealings. 2 or 3 board members refuse to permit the group to move in a new direction - they want to cling to the old ideas in the face of lagging ticket sales and rising costs.

Yes, I am young, in a company of older engineers (power company). Noone wants to change ANYTHING here. Phones with HANDSFREE is a radical idea here. It's unreal. So yes I agree, change can be very good and the older generation seems to never want to change anything.

My point was merely that something good for the bottom line does not inherently mean it is the right thing to do.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

In this case, my committee feels like the Plan is the best option for the bottom line in the long term. But the Plan treads on and eliminates pieces of a cherished and established tradition.

I guess it would depend on how you came off. If you really believed it and had sound reasoning to back it up and answered all those pointed questions quickly and confidently, then I'd say you should feel good about yourself and your standing.

 

[iwearnosox]

Next time wear a gun and holster. 🙂

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

Everyone will being saying that when the company goes bankrupt and the whole lot of you no longer have jobs.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
Next time wear a gun and holster. 🙂

And fire the gun into the air to accentuate key points.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
Next time wear a gun and holster. 🙂

And fire the gun into the air to accentuate key points.

All that and a bottle of Jack. The next meeting people WILL agree with my point of view. :laugh:

 

[Mellman]

change typically is good, but in some cases its bad, here at my office, they lay off 100's of workers, yet we have new hire orientation with just as many new employee's, why can't things be shuffled around?

Other things that bug me are changing things for a new way of doing it, and their "new better way" is much more inefficient, and gives the company no real benefit, it seems as if their only reason for changing it is because they're the new kid on the block so they think its ok to change how a succcessful and growing company works...

i realize this post is hard to read...but im too tired to retype

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: KMDupont64

Originally posted by: Argo
I know exactly how it feels man. Unfortunately, in corporate world saying the right thing isn't always the "right" thing to do.

Why?

Who said what's good for the company's bottom line is the right thing to do.

Everyone will being saying that when the company goes bankrupt and the whole lot of you no longer have jobs.

Ok, let us open our minds a bit please. OBVIOUSLY, if the company is going under then drastic measures need to be taken.

Cutting certain jobs so the company makes a little extra money doesn't make it "the right thing to do".

I am not saying that Nuclear Ned is wrong by any means. I am just saying bottom line != right thing to do in EVERY CASE.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
*The story below is true, but intentionally vague in parts.

Last night I was part of an organizational board meeting. I am the chairman of perhaps the most significant committee in this organization. Our committee is in charge of providing vision and direction for the organization. For the last few years, it has been noted that our organization is in decline and needs some new focus, lest the organization degrades to the point that it ceases to be.

Last night I presented my committee's Plan for redirecting the organization. A big chunk of the Plan was some restructuring and eliminating an important part of the organization that is near and dear to the hearts of the old guard (who made up about 70%-80% of last night's attendees). To say the least, the Plan was not very popular and I spent a good hour answering loaded questions and defending the Plan. Since I am the chair of my committee, the perception seemed to be that it was all my idea, and some of the questions seemed to get rather pointed and personal.

To say the least, I left the meeting as a mass of frayed nerves. And I don't feel much better today.

what organization is this?

are you in the KKK?