World Monitor Magazine WM_Energy_ 2019_web | Page 58

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The fortune at the bottom
of the org chart
How inexperienced and entry-level colleagues can deliver some of your biggest
opportunities.
by Josh Levs
Years ago, I suffered a setback at work. It was the end
of the year, when big budget changes always brought
upheavals. The organization was in tumult, constantly
shifting leadership and direction in unpredictable and
often nonsensical ways. After having had a banner year, I
was informed that the bulk of my work was suddenly off
the table. The resources weren’t there for it. I would be
shifted to another role.
I was saddened and concerned, but I wasn’t alone. The
dozen or so teams that I had worked with in my prior
capacity didn’t want to see me go. But in this organization,
fear ruled. Everyone lived in a constant state of being fired.
Questioning managerial decisions was almost unheard of.
For whatever reason, I had no problem challenging the
higher-ups. So I contested the decision, showing hard data
to support my case. I eventually got the decision reversed
and was allowed to resume my work.
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But now there was another problem. Despite receiving
the go-ahead from our bosses, none of the team leaders
wanted to be the first to start working again. They were
all afraid that whoever did would signal that they had
disagreed with the bosses’ earlier decision. All except for
one: The least experienced team leader, who had just been
promoted on an interim basis.
In a sense, she had the most to lose, because her new role
was an opportunity to show her skills and curry favor with
management. She knew that. Still, she invited me to begin
again immediately. That changed everything. Other teams
saw the results and followed suit.
Why was she the one who showed this courage? Because
in a different sense, she had less to lose. In a conversation
with me, she noted that she was younger than the other
team leaders and didn’t have children to feed. If she were
fired, she said, she’d get a job elsewhere and be fine.