Minor mistake blown out of all proportion.

[donquixotedelamancha]

I've just started a new job (big promotion) as financial director for a large company. My boss is lovely and supportive and we are both on the same wavelength. I've got huge expertise in this area and in many ways it's a dream job.

I recently took us in a new strategic direction and there were some teething troubles. Customers didn't like the cost increase the changes were causing and shareholders were fussing about the share price dropping.

I wanted to just move past the difficulties but colleagues just would not let it go. For the last week everyone had been pecking my head about this and that 'crashing' when we are having an important conference and need to get on with other stuff.

So I agreed to drop the biggest change, but people are still moaning that I should have 'listened' earlier. They are compaining that:
1.The market reaction means the company will pay £1.6 billion more, each year, to borrow money.

1. The banking arm had to transfer £65 billion into the pension arm to keep it afloat (they might not even spend all that).

That's hardly my fault, is it? How can I get my annoying colleagues (and ideally the customers too) to shut up and get in line?

It wasn’t a fuck up though. This was exactly the plan. Crash the pound, take the money and run.

They are a bunch of criminals.

Well, unlike most of us, you can just retire and live on your millions.

I liked this thread too, OP.

Resign

My advice - Get your team to dig up dirt on one staff member from your competitors, maybe you could find a tweet from several weeks ago - doesn't have to be serious error but call for their resignation.

Leak this to the trade publications who are all on your side (thanks to your generous hospitality ££ over the years) and your error will be almost forgotten - remember your company has the God given right to market leadership irrespective of performance.

Sounds like your boss should and will get the sack soon, which will inevitably and deservedly result in your own redundancy.

Howard, I think you should go back to your job at the Halifax.

My partner, normally the most mild mannered of men thinks we should bring back the death penalty on this one

This isn’t as clever as you think it is.

A big shareholders' meeting might do it. And the Board & all the Exec and active Directors will be replaced by other representatives.

But you know, maybe you shouldn't be an arrogant arse. And remember who put you in the position you're in, and who can sack you.

Hint: It's not the Managing Director.

😂

just keep reminding people about Ukraine. That’ll do the trick

"That's hardly my fault, is it? How can I get my annoying colleagues (and ideally the customers too) to shut up and get in line?"

Many strategies are available. Firstly, insist that you are "new" to the job, and therefore some errors are inevitable (despite having run the company for 12 years previously). Secondly, insist that there is no other "credible" person qualified in your company, or in the company hoping to effect a financial takeover, who could be placed in the role, so there's no point asking you to leave. Re annoying colleagues - initially insist that whatever they are complaining about did not occur. When enough evidence is amassed to show that it did occur, insist that you misunderstood the rules / brief / instructions. It is everyone' fault but your own. When this, too, fails to convince, revert to the no credible replacement trope.

But I couldn't
so I don't try
its best not to try and do something you don't have the skills for

What’s with all these tedious “jokes” ?? Is it a Journo looking for an easy story, or someone with too much time in their hands ?

God I hope it's not a journo
I'd hope they have some writing skills

🔥

In these situations what I've seen work previously is to have a baby. Everyone loves a baby and it distracts from the bad news.
Look cute baby over here 👶

You react to the one poster who found it funny? 🙄

Resign, go and talk to the Press about how none of this is your fault and your boss needs to resign.

🙋‍♀️I also found it funny.

Honestly?
Call an EGM - immediately. It sounds like the shareholders have lost confidence in you. You need to allow them to exercise their right to vote on whether you should be in this role.

Well done OP. I like your post.

You missed the bit about having a champagne reception with your ex-boss who made a killing out of your 'new strategic direction'. How are you getting out of that one?

Also dont forget to mention that the agency that's there to try & clear up your shitstorm is independent. So if they do things that your customers don't like it's not really your fault.

So far the Daily Fail journos who lift entire MN threads haven't shown any writing, or indeed, investigative skills.

Ahh.. satire!

I found it funny too.