Q) The CEO has finally started talking to me! Last week, she nodded and said, ‘Hello Piedmont’. Then yesterday, she approached me in the hall and said, “I’ve been hearing great things about you, Piedmont.” It’s great to have the CEO appreciate you, and I feel like my hard work might be paying off at last. The trouble is, I’m not Piedmont!
A) Oh yes you are — at least for now! Let’s look at the big picture:
If you tell the CEO you’re not Piedmont, you’ll be telling her she’s wrong. That’s a bad idea. Far better to assume Piedmont’s identity; start attending Piedmont’s meetings, answer questions directed to Piedmont, change your driver’s license. Little by little you will become Piedmont. Will the real Piedmont object? Probably, but that’s nothing to be concerned about. He won’t complain to the CEO — he’d be telling her she’s wrong!
Eventually, the real Piedmont will screw something up. At that point you can safely abandon your Piedmont identity. Then, when the CEO starts to reprimand you about the screw-up, simply spread out your hands and say, ‘I’m not Piedmont!’ She won’t like it, but she’ll have no choice but to put the blame right where it belongs – on Piedmont!
Dr. Miles Miller, holds a PhD in managerial logistics from Billings-Porth University, where he has served on the faculty since 1988, specializing in conceptual trending.
