There’s a line every beat cop in New York knows. “You can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
After 1,500 EOS sessions, I hear it in my head every time a room starts talking around the elephant and the eyes start rolling.
Four years ago, the elephant was an empty chair.
A leadership team had booked a session with me a year in advance. One of their top executives knew the date and didn’t show.
The Operating Partners from their Private Equity Sponsor were in the room. Everyone checked in around the table. Nobody mentioned the cold, empty chair where he always sat.
Here’s what went through my head: Oh no. They’re going to make me say it. Why do I have to be the adult in the room?
The easy way was to turn the page and Run the Agenda. The hard way could get me fired.
“I have bad news. You’re going to want to fire me. This is probably none of my business.”
I pointed at the empty chair.
“We booked this a year ago. He knew. He didn’t miss today because he’s performing. He missed it because his job is on the line.
The Operating Partners aren’t here because things are going well. They’re here to address the deficit.
This shouldn’t be a Board issue. It should be a Leadership Team issue.
Now fall out and regroup. Check in again, and don’t skip the uncomfortable stuff.”
Same order. Same battle rhythm. It became the most honest exchange that team ever had, before or after. A fast kiln cycle: clay in, porcelain out, in one loop around the table.
What I didn’t see: thirty seconds after I spoke, one of the Operating Partners broke our no-tech rule. Phone under the table. You know the move. He texted the CEO: “This is the reason we hired JBS.”
I missed it completely. I found out at lunch, when the CEO told me with a big smile.
What’s the empty chair your team keeps talking around?
Stay Curious,
JBS