Training & Development
company. He wore a silk suit and was a gracious host, but clearly a very dynamic individual. I was the lowest ranking person at the meeting. My director opted to sit behind me, whereas people I had worked with on the project from other departments were sitting behind their respective directors, and it was their directors who did the talking.
The briefing went smoothly until ‘question time’ when, to my horror, one of the directors (not mine) announced very forcefully that the project was doomed to fail. Being the junior person in the room, I naturally waited for my more senior project team members to speak up in defence of a project we had all been working on for some months. They said nothing.
I was on my own
I cleared my throat and asked the director why he felt that way. His answer was, again, quite forceful, but I got the impression this time that his people had not briefed him fully. I did not want to embarrass my fellow project team members, so I told him as concisely and politely as I could that he had got it wrong and I would be very happy to supply evidence that would reassure him. I then looked at my fellow project team members in order to let them comment or, at least, nod in agreement. To a man they broke off eye contact with me. One even started looking out of the window. I was on my own.
I quickly repeated my offer to supply evidence and reassurance which was accepted rather reluctantly and, within moments, the meeting was over. It was, at this time, as I was coming to terms with the lack of personal integrity shown by my project team colleagues, that I realised I was in serious trouble.
He had got it wrong
I had done what I was expressly asked not to do by my director. He had sat silently behind me as I told a senior manager in front of his peers, his staff and his boss, that he had got it wrong. I had contended and I had challenged.
I sat and waited while other people got up to leave.
Rather like a man on the gallows I waited for the end to come. My director would, at any moment, start to say his farewells to people and he would then invite me into the corridor - where he would tell me I had lost my job because I had defied his instructions.
Why did this happen? Because I could not keep my big mouth shut when my personal and professional integrity was challenged. I could not keep quiet, even when others (who probably knew better and perhaps feared more) chose not to take a chance and show any personal integrity at all.
There can be no compromise
You see, to me, it seemed so simple. If my personal integrity is at stake, my self respect is at stake and, if my self-respect is at stake, there can be no compromise.
As I sank into my chair, fearing the worst, a silk clad arm reached across to shake my hand and a voice said: ‘Thanks Frank, I’m certainly glad you came today’.
What a relief! The number two in the whole company had commended me for what I had said and done. My director led me to the corridor, put his arm around my shoulder, commended me enthusiastically and then went away smiling. I kept my job.
In conclusion, let me just warn you that people around you may not always show personal integrity, but that is their problem. If you feel you have lost yours, then that is the first step in rebuilding it by starting afresh.
Your self respect and your personal integrity in the workplace are worth more than everything else to you, your employer and your career. May I wish you well in maintaining your personal integrity.
Frank Newberry has been helping people to get better results in the turfcare sector for over twenty years.
Exclusive to Pitchcare and coming this autumn - watch out for Frank’s completely revised workshop: Essential Management Skills for
TWENTY Questions
Rob Bradshaw - Girls Aloud, Singing proud ... and very loud!
Who are you? Rob Bradshaw, groundsman at One Leisure.
Family status? Single, I have a beautiful daughter, Miyah, who is 2.
Who’s your hero and why? My mum and dad. They have given me all the support to get where I am ; not only are they my parents, they are my best mates.
What is your dream holiday? Mmmmm, I would have to say back to Magaluf, amazing week, exactly what it says on the tin.
What annoys you the most? I generally rise above things - nothing is that important.
What would you change about yourself? To be slightly less good looking!
Who wouldn’t you like to be? The person who has just vandalised my 3G surface; blood springs to mind.
Favourite record, and why? Abide with me... I sing it loud and proud when I visit Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup Final every year.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? It would have to be Cheryl Cole, her clothes would look good on my bedroom floor.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? I would give our special care baby unit a wedge of money. I’d also have to make sure my family are well catered for.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? I would have to be a drum, big, noisy and loud.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Be patient at whatever you do in life, good things will always come to those who wait.
What’s your favourite smell? Fresh cut grass clippings. I’m hoping Febreeze bring out a new fragrance.
What do you do in your spare time? Work on a local sports show for a radio station, and look after my beer belly with a few pints of Fosters and Jack Daniels.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? “How do you sow seed, is there a special way, is there a correct way of putting it in the ground?” I told the guy that, when I vertidrained, every two inches I put one seed in a hole - he started doing it, the plonker!
What’s your favourite piece of kit? My knowledge. Only joking. It has to be the Wiedenmann aerator. It might be a boring job, but very satisfactory through the wet months.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Bloody nice bloke.
Groundsmen and Greenkeepers.
If you are having problems and frustrations at work, and you think it might help to talk about it, you can get in touch with Frank directly via the contact tab of his personal website
www.franknewberry.com
What talent would you like to have? I'd like to be able to walk in a straight line with a mower after a few beers, or even better after a tank full in the morning with a hangover!
What makes you angry? Nothing. As I said earlier, I rise above it all.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? To do with sport, goal-line technology. Sep Blatter, understand man and grow up. You must know it will help football to become a better, fairer game.
APRIL/MAY 2012 PC 137
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