We were all surviving!  If we just stuck together we would get through this; Safety in numbers.  That was the lesson most of us learned as children.  For me it was as a scared kid at Boy Scout camp doing survival training that I first learned the lesson:  Stick together!

 

The meeting was droning on.  If not for the companionship, distraction and support of the group none of us would have survived without falling asleep or becoming overtly anxious.  Thus was our plight:  boredom or stress!  For some of us both!    

 

Earlier in the day the moderator had gone through a checklist of important items to verify compliance.  This was a necessary exercise in validation regarding critical matters of importance.  Necessary yes; but stressful and tedious.

 

As a reward for a stressful morning the afternoon was intended to be light hearted, even playful.  The problem was, the moderator announced this intention but in a world where actions speak louder than words, she continued in her morning “validation mode” of heightened importance.

 

Having led numerous team building exercises and management retreats in addition to speaking to statewide and national audiences I was keenly aware that this moderator was floundering.  While intending to solicit voluntary interaction she was actually spotlighting, and consequently, embarrassing people.

 

She meant well and was trying to be funny but was NOT FUNNY; in fact, she was abrasive.  As I watched her unwittingly belittle several of my colleagues with her interrogating style I decided I needed to intervene; But how?

 

While discussing Quint Studer’s book; “Results That Last: Hardwiring Behaviors That Will Take Your Company to the Top” our flailing moderator said; “Lon, you were supposed to have read the book by now.  What movie did Mr. Studer reference in chapter nine to make his point about the value of our contributions?”

 

Here was my shot!

 

I knew the answer; but having just watched several of my colleagues fail similar tests I remembered my Boy Scout mantra; “Safety in numbers!  Stick together!”

 

Instead of the correct answer of “It’s a Wonderful Life!” I lied.

 

My response was “Forrest Gump!”

 

For the third time in a row over a five minute period the moderator gave us her now-familiar “gotcha” response and told me I was wrong. 

 

To which I responded; “Oh yeah.  The Forrest Gump reference was in Chapter Thirteen (another lie).  But we haven’t gotten to that yet!”

 

Everyone laughed; and in this surreal world of “the following leader” even the moderator had to laugh.  I then said, “I am sure someone here knows the correct answer!?”

 

And someone did!

 

From the back of the room meek and quiet Susan, a competent professional in the awkward position of inheriting a poor performing business unit was able to gain some kudos by shouting out the proper answer.

 

The moderator learned to create win-win scenarios with guaranteed positive outcomes by finding volunteers with the right answer rather than spotlighting people.

 

We all stuck together; we all survived!

 

Some in the room might have thought I was a smart aleck and that I was being irreverent; some might have thought I was humorously and eloquently trying to cover up for not knowing the answer; none, I am sure, knew the truth.  That’s because my lying ways continued. 

 

I told everyone I had not yet read the book.

 

I couldn’t lose credibility by telling the truth!

 

 

*  *  *

 

Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant, Expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com