Comments on: A Boss On a Spending Spree

By: Albert van Niekerk

Albert van Niekerk — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:26:09 +0000

Joseph – I liked your line of reasoning, but it would seem that one could add that the CFO should simply gently probe and find out what the president’s motives are. If they are sound (which you raised as a possibility) the CFO could suggest that these sound reasons could be communicated to the workforce.

The CFO might be faced with a simple answer which simply has to be communicated. Instead he and his staff are creating their own stories for which there might be no substance.

By: Maria Payroll

Maria Payroll — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 07:11:04 +0000

Interesting question. Great and very informative answer. I agree with the points you have made. When your boss spends money on what you think is wasteful and you are not comfortable with it, then talk to your boss. Ask what benefits this spending spree would give to the company. If he can’t give a reasonable answer, then tell him you could just use the money for something that could actually increase the company’s revenue. Before jumping into conclusions, know the facts first.

By: Ceil

Ceil — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:55:27 +0000

I was re reading parts of my crucial conversations book last night and it is good to be reminded of new examples. It isn’t about who’s right and who’s wrong Its about what’s best for the company. I doubt very much that the boss really wants to ruin his company by spending too much money. But apperances make a difference. It reminds me of my son-in-law making trying to make big deals in his thread bare suit. I told him to either buy a new suit or close his doors. Well, it was something like that but his business did improve after that.

By: Dan Seymour

Dan Seymour — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:49:09 +0000

I think the CFO may be telling himself a negitive story on his boss’s motivations for the landscaping and other aesthetic improvements going on around the office. The President may feel these improvements would make the employees feel proud of where they work and boost moral. I think your boss would be surprised to here about the reaction of distain from some of your businesses employees. He would probably want to know about their reactions.

By: Therese Staublin

Therese Staublin — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:20:38 +0000

Boss on a spending spree reminded me of a story that goes back more than 25 years. I worked for a large state facility. The State had, in my opinion, an unusual way of ordering. They ordered quarterly. At the end of the quarter there was often a shortage of some item and overage of somthing else. This particular year, the facility ran out of napkins in the cafeteria before the end of the quarter. The cafeteria began putting out stacks of paper towels but alas, the paper towels also ran out. This left us with rolls of toilet paper next to the silverware in the cafeteria and anywhere else paper towels would have been stocked. At the same time, employees had to walk past a construction site at the entrance to the cafeteria where an expensive modern sculpture was being erected. There was much grumbling every day about why management was spending all this money on a silly statue when they couldn’t even buy napkins and paper towels. What the employees didn’t know was that the money for the statue came from a grant and the money had to be specifically spent on art. Unfortunately, the statue will now probably be a constant reminder of the time the hospital almost ran out of all paper products. Luckily, the quarter ended before the toilet paper ran out.

By: Gary Cohen

Gary Cohen — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 05:02:04 +0000

Joseph,

Good call. I have seen it and been in the CEOs position before. It seems the leader might take a lesson from some of your other play books and communicate what is motivating his decisions.

I am enjoying your book Change Anything – after reading Influencers I was left wanting more and this new book does it. Hope you will do another interview with me on my blog?

Gary

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