DEMOCRACY PREVAILS AT CII

After seventeen years working out of the same office on 8900 Bellanca Ave I had had an epiphany; let’s get the hell out of Dodge City and start the new decade in smarter premises. It became my New Year’s resolution; a change is as good as a rest. We could take advantage of the tanked economy to secure a facility that two years ago would have commanded twice the price. We could expand our screening operations and even take on more handling, especially ocean freight. I was sold on the idea. For three days everyone was on my side. On New Year’s Eve we found a location tailor-made for our needs. I had a great weekend visualizing how we would grow our business in the midst of the recession. Everything looked picture perfect to me.

On first day of 2010, I noticed a couple of colleagues not quite as enthusiastic as they were in 2009. What a difference a year makes, or this case on December 31st we were about to sign paperwork and on January 3rd, the call was “Can we slow down a little and evaluate exactly what we are doing here.” When I get to work on January 4th, I was greeted with, “We should stay where we are!” At first I thought a conspiracy was underway and being the sensitive bloke I am, I wondered if there had been a New Year’s Eve party that had taken place without inviting me and a coup d’état was hatched. It took me some while for my emotions to settle down.

Graham, Lyne, Peter and Ronen analyzed the numbers, the state of the economy as to its effects upon CII’s trading future for 2010 and concluded it was in the company’s best interest, to defer any thoughts of committing the company to a higher overhead until there was clear evidence, our business could manage the additional costs. When I woke up this morning after a good night’s sleep, any thought of a coup d’etat or conspiracy from within had completely vanished from my thought process. In fact as much as I don’t like admitting it, my plan was a little too ambitious and the team was right. Above all, what made me happiest was I again realized I don’t work alongside “yes men”. Every day in the office they speak up and tell the truth as they see it, whether I may agree or not. On this occasion I was out-voted, but how can I be a bad loser, when all four went above and beyond the call of duty to tell me my plan sucked, all for the right reasons.

I can’t help but think at least being at the helm of the company for seventeen years I have actually promoted and sanctioned a culture to blossom where democracy prevails. My feelings yesterday may have been hurt for a short while, but today I feel a pride that I am not an island; I have a wonderful group of colleagues who above all, care deeply about the company and will stand up and declare it to my face even when in opposition to what I might think is best for us all.

Tags: CII, Peter Lamy