Eleven people sat around the table. Alicia, in her role as Division Manager, the two Project Leaders and the rest of the team. It was a big project.

“I want to thank you for inviting me to this team meeting,” I began. “I know most of you from other projects over the past few years. It’s good to see familiar faces.

“And I also want to thank each of you for your participation today. The Phoenix Project is important to this company and you are all well aware of its delays.

“The purpose of the meeting today is to resolve those delays caused by the project’s leadership.” I stopped to gauge the response. There was predictable shifting in the chairs. Everyone was very uncomfortable.

Whenever I see that much discomfort, I know we are dealing with a real issue. –TF