Curtis was very uncomfortable. “You make it sound like I am in big trouble. But isn’t this what management is all about? I mean, aren’t I the one who is supposed to make all the decisions? Aren’t I the one responsible for all the results?”

“You are accountable to your boss for the performance of your team,” I replied. “But between you and your team, it sounds like you are responsible for making up all the plays, calling the plays, taking the snap, throwing the football, catching the football, running for the touchdown. Did you forget to block?”

“Yes, but it’s not that bad.”

“It’s not?” I asked. “Who was here all day last Saturday? How many hours a week have you been putting in?”

“Well, when you put it like that, I was here, 58 hours last week,” Curtis reported.

“And whose fault was that?”

“Well, there was just stuff I couldn’t get done during the week. I have a lot of responsibility.”

“And how much responsibility does your team have?”