Saturday 4 January 2014

Bilbo's performance review (SPOILER ALERT)

So Bilbo, you are two thirds of the way through your project (or quest as I think you might prefer to call it). As team facilitator & journey adviser, how do you think you are doing?
Well, it has not been easy. We have had a whole heap of orcs, elves, dwarves and a wizard that keeps going off piste to contend with. You may say two thirds in but in actuality, it feels like I have hardly left the Shire. 
That is in fact the issue I wanted to pick up with you. Whilst I commend your enchanted ability to stay alive, given the odds sometimes stacked against you, what would you say that you have really achieved?
I have lots of material for my book! Indeed, probably more than I will manage to fit in to what will be a children's book. I have found a rather useful ring.
Yes. The ring. Found?
Not exactly found... I managed to procure it from a non-traditional source but I would say that it is very much mine now. 
Any ethical issues here, Mr 'Burglar'?
No. None at all. The ring is mine. All mine. 
So, back to your achievements. Tell me more.
Truth be told, everything has been a bit of train wreck really. There are quite a few people who are pretty unhappy. Darkness is enveloping the world. Smaug was darn unreasonable. Gandalf has disappeared who knows where. Team work has not been brilliant. Thorin's project leadership style is very hard to predict. I have tried talking with him but he seems overly focused on this stone. And as for the elves, I thought they were meant to be helping us! So we haven't got very far really. Sorry. 
What are you plans now? How do you intend to improve things here on in?
Well, I am going to step up. I will start with Thorin and sort out his leadership. Then I will find Gandalf and remind him of our health & safety, lone worker and risk management policies. We may have to let Smaug go. And then a bit of team building between the dwarves and elves. And maybe somehow we will manage to sort out this darkness thing..? It is not looking good though.
And the ring?
What ring?

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This is the fourth of my new series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I am doing this. Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. 

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous25/1/14 22:18

    Hello Jon, Very good ... Gandalf the archetypical project sponsor. Around for the good bits but missing most of the time. As ever, Martin

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