Thongcharm

Notes from a Re-Org: The Conference Call

My group is going through a massive re-org. While I have some inside information, I can’t begin to predict the outcome for myself or my team - or whether I will be content with the outcome. This could be amazing. This could be horrible. But, I will say, in the interim, this is an amazing popcorn moment. Pop the corn, and sit back and watch.

One feature of any re-org is the corporate conference call. There is always a call in which some senior people discuss the changes and the goals, at a high level. The calls tend to be vacuous and heavy on the spin. They are stilted and weird. And they always always have a Q & A component. 

There are only 2 types of questions asked during these QA periods:

1. The baiting question: The real question poking at some tangible problem with the new plan, typically asked by someone who either has nothing to lose, or no social acumen. The presenters on the call placate the person with a non-answer, and then note that they hate the questioner, for future reference.

2. The sycophantic question: A question designed basically to kiss the ass of the presenters. It is the question version of the phrase “I, for one, welcome our new overlords.”  Depending on the speaker, this could be a really good strategic move.

Naturally, I ask no questions. I am a conscientious objector. But, the popcorn is good eats.