Strategy and Risk Management

9

What Happens NEXT?

“When people do not talk about their concerns and fears, the silence can destroy a perfectly good relationship.” Teri W.

We met the next day at PJ Investments (PJI). Someone provided us with a mountain of doughnuts; cookies; small pastries; and, of course, coffee. Sweet smells filled that room today. Because this was the last session, I would miss the people but not the heat. It was 39° Celsius at 8.00 am.

Reconciling Different Views of Risk

All through the sessions I noticed that Paul and Justin always sat far away from one another. This was strange behaviour for peers who had built a successful and profitable business together. As I obtained a greater understanding about the inner workings of PJI, I came to realise why Justin hired me. Something placed a wedge between them, and Justin hoped I would remove it and rescue his company.

When we first met, Justin said, “I am in a quandary about what to do with a recent opportunity for my company,” but he never spoke about it again. I broached the subject with Paul, who refused to say anything. Today I would attempt to define and maybe remove that wedge.

On this second day, while their employees worked on an assignment, I invited Justin and Paul to lunch at a nearby restaurant. After giving the waitress our orders I said, “I commend the two of you for getting this risk management programme implemented, but I guarantee that the programme will fail if the two of you do not support it, and I sense there is one risk ...