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* * *
I hadsome success getting a list of appointments and regularly scheduled events from JJ’s executive assistant, but getting a list of expectations out of JJ for Ellie was much harder.
I thought we’d talk it out over lunch and I’d be able to discuss it with Ellie this afternoon, but it was soon clear that even JJ didn’t know what he wanted.
“She just needs to be more… authoritative,” he threw out, leaning back in his chair. “She’s too wishy-washy.”
“How would you like her to show you more authority?” I probed. “She took it upon herself to create this employee satisfaction program, right? I’d say that shows a fair amount of authority.”
“It’s hard to explain,” he sighed, scrubbing at his beard. “She’s so intent on making the employees like her, she’s not spending any time running the actual business.”
“Well, if you have a list of duties you’d like her to take over, I’m happy to bring that to her so we can get started.”
“It’s not as simple as a list of tasks,” he huffed. “It’s more abouthowshe acts. She doesn’t act like a CEO.”
It was only my second day working with Ellie, and the lack of clear expectations was even frustrating to me. How was I supposed to help Ellie meet JJ’s criteria for taking over as CEO when he didn’t even know what he wanted? How was I supposed to be successful at this job, and earn my place, if I couldn’t glean what he wanted, either?
I need this job, I reminded myself with a slow breath. “And how should she act as a CEO?”
“Authoritative. Confident. Dutiful.” JJ listed these attributes without hesitation… or further explanation.
I copied them down, then probed further. “Can you give me an example of a time when you thought she should have acted more authoritative? It’ll help me illustrate it to her.”
JJ was looking seriously annoyed at my continued questioning. His brows furrowed, and he ran a hand over his short beard thoughtfully. “I don’t have a specific example. It’s just a feeling. She doesn’t feel ready to take over.”
The more I talked with JJ, the more I squirmed with the realization that I may have taken an impossible job. It seemed to me as if the real problem was thathewasn’t ready to let his daughter take over… but obviously, I couldn’t tell him that.
Instead, I tried another tack. “JJ, can I be straight with you?” My heart rate sped up, heat rising under my collar. This could go one of two ways, and I didn’t know JJ well enough to guess.
“Of course, always.”
“I’ve developed a lot of leaders, both the enlisted and officers. And one thing I know—it’s imperative to have a clear set of goals for them to meet. I can’t tell someone they need to be more confident, because it’s impossible to measure. What if they believe they are confident? What exactly is ‘confidentenough’? Where do we draw that line? I think Ellie has a lot of great attributes, and I’m not capable of declaring her ‘suitably confident’ because it’s not a measurable metric. Without measurable goals, we’d just be setting ourselves up for frustration all around.”
JJ’s mouth formed a hard line while he mulled over my words. It was a risk, calling him out for being vague versus placating him, but we needed to agree if we were ever going to reach a solution where everyone was happy. My heart pounded, wondering if I’d just shot myself in the foot.
Finally, he nodded. “I see what you’re saying. But how do we come up with these goals? What do you propose?”
My racing pulse slowed, and I laid out my thoughts on how we could find some middle ground.
Finally, we had a plan, and hopefully one that Ellie would agree to as well.
* * *
I’d scarcely madeit back into the office, the plan in place, when Ellie shot it straight to hell.
“Jake, you ready?” She stuck her head through my open doorway. “We’ve gotta get a move on.”
“Sure thing. More rounds?” I stood and slipped my suit jacket back on.
“Something like that,” she replied with a dark smile.
I couldn’t be sure, but there was something alarming about the way she said it that set my teeth on edge. It felt like a challenge, somehow, even though I couldn’t quite explain why.
However, I had been the one arguing that I needed to observe how she spent her day to help me could find the disconnect between her and her father, so I swallowed down my trepidation and followed her to the elevator and downstairs. I should have been curious about the wide sun hat she had materialized during the morning, or noticed the unmistakable fragrance of coconut sunscreen.
However, I didn’t know what I was in for until she led me outside. It was a surprisingly hot day for the mountains—apparently that thinner atmosphere made up for the high elevation—and the sun beat down mercilessly on the stone courtyard between towering buildings.
Ahead, smack in the middle, a stand was erected with a sign bearing the words ‘Employee Appreciation Day’ draped across the top. Several coolers were arranged behind the stand, and large jugs of yellow liquid, surrounded by stacks of paper cups, filled the surface. Already a small line had formed, people wearing Aspen Ridge Lodging polos chatting while they waited. A small cheer rose from the crowd when they spotted Ellie, who waved and beamed back at them.
