| A new manager spends a week at his new office with the
manager he is replacing. On the last day the departing manager tells him, "I have
left three numbered envelopes in the desk drawer. Open an envelope if you encounter a
crisis you can't solve." Three months down
the track there is a major drama, everything goes wrong - the usual stuff - and the
manager feels very threatened by it all. He remembers the parting words of his predecessor
and opens the first envelope. The message inside says "Blame your predecessor!"
He does this and gets off the hook.
About half a year later, the company is experiencing a
dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. The manager quickly opens the second
envelope. The message read, "Reorganize!" This he does, and the company quickly
rebounds.
Three months later, at his next crisis, he opens the
third envelope. The message inside says "Prepare three envelopes". |
