When Martha sent me the recording of the North District project meeting, Derek had already been publicly reprimanded by senior leadership for half an hour.
"Derek, this is the third time this month that a partner has suspended negotiations because of missing basic due diligence."
"The risk assessment form you submitted was blank, yet the project team had already committed to a delivery date."
"Head office gave you opportunities, and the North District gave you resources. If you can't produce results by next quarter, you won't be leading a team anymore."
Derek offered no defense.
When he returned to his office, his desk was piled with rejected proposals, coffee spilled across the documents. His computer screen was still stuck on the termination notice sent by the partner.
In the past,
