The board had a plan. “The merger will deliver us scale,” the board said. “We’ll put this team and that team in the same room. How hard can this be?”

The board loved their plan. “We’ll double the assets, cut some fat,” the board said. “What’s not to love?”

The two teams now are in the same room. The old guys invest one way, the new guys another way. There is no love. 

They bicker and carp. They shout and sulk. The teams are angry.

It shows in the numbers. The funds are in the fourth quartile. The clients are angry. 

Outflows are gaining momentum. The plan isn’t working. The board members are angry. 

“Guys,” the CEO says to the room.

The old guys look up, the new guys don’t.

“Guys, could you all just listen to me? Please?”

Keyboards click under the fluorescent lighting.

“Guys, this isn’t working. Okay?”

One of the new guys shakes his head.

“We can’t just keep doing what we were doing before,” the CEO says. “We’ve got to have one process. We’ve all got to buy in.” 

One of the new guys tilts back his chair. “Those guys are never going to change,” the new guy says. “Always looking backwards. The world has changed.”

One of the old guys shakes his head. “You guys just buy the hot new story,” the old guy says. “You don’t even care what you pay. You’re going to get us killed.”

The new guy rolls his eyes. “You’re getting us killed right now. That old stuff isn’t working. It’s dead.”

The old guy walks over to the new guy’s desk and picks up the new guy’s water glass. He pours the water over the new guy’s head. The new guy jumps to his feet.

“Guys,” the CEO says. “Guys, please.”

The old guy and the new guy stand nose to nose, breathing. 

The room holds its breath, watching.

“Guys,” the CEO says. “Come on. This isn’t working.”

The old guy walks back to his desk.

“Guys,” the CEO says. “Let’s talk about this, okay? Tomorrow?”

 

Reflections

  • In what ways, if any, does this resonate with your situation?
  • What is the likely outcome of this series of events?
  • What could be done differently? By whom?