Just had a project review meeting with our 'big' boss. The executive GM of the company. That was an interesting experience. He arrived late for the meeting, sat listening for a few minutes before effortlessly stepping into the conversation by announcing, 'guys, you're ALL ****ing into the wind', and proceeded to ask a series of the most uncomfortable yet lethally accurate questions I've ever experienced in a business review.
Never raised his voice, never allowed anyone to speak until he made his point AND allowed you the same curtesy, did not allow 2 words when one would suffice, dug down into the heart of your theory within 10 words if he sensed you weren't confident in your replies, and left everyone chided yet inspired to do better next time round. The two biggest bull ******s in the room was left squirming and disregarded within about 5 seconds and didn't dare speak again. But not before he let his eyes rest on them for just an uncomfortable second too long and make a mental note. The meaning was made crystal clear.
I owned up to my mistakes but was confident to point out that I've learned from them, showed how I've fixed them and how the remedy ties in to the overall project. Minimal words, relevant facts, no hot air and certainly no excuses. The man was as calm as an experienced assassin but everyone automatically knew that any excuse with even a hint nonsense behind it would focus the bead on you and you won't survive what comes next.
Not much of a story to the thread but it's good to see decent and able managers around. Certainly inspired me
