Martin
From: Martin Lukes
To: Pandora@CoachworX!
Hi Pandora
Just sent you the picture. I did spend a tiny bit more than five minutes on it, but I think in the end I got pretty close to something. Though I’m no Picasso, I’m actually quite pleased with the end result!
22.5 percent better than my bestest
Martin
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jenny Withers
Darling—How’s your first day been? Shall we leave together? I could go home early for once—see you downstairs 6ish.
What did you think of Keri? She is a bit flaky, but willing. She lost me at lunchtime when she was going on about chakra gemstone kits. But she’s much nicer to work with than Sylvia. And, no, I don’t fancy her.
Love you Mxx
MARCH 3
From: Pandora@CoachworX!
To: Martin Lukes
Hi Martin
Thank you for sharing your dream with me. It is always fascinating watching coachees’ dreams take shape, and yours is a uniquely special one. Your road symbolizes your journey, the castle is your home life—those walls are very thick and solid, which is a great sign! However, this may also be a reflection of you as a defensive adult, with a vulnerable child within.
The white circle in the corner is your true North. This is your guiding star. It shows that whatever you do, you want it to be for a bigger purpose. Yes you want success—but you want it because it helps you achieve immortality.
Now Martin, I want you to break your dream down into achievable targets. Tell me your specific dreams. And I will help you make them come true.
Strive and thrive!
Pandora
MARCH 5
From: Barry Malone
To: All Staff
Howdy
Everywhere I go in this company I get fired up by how you are living by our five values, Purpose, Practice, Potency, Performance, and People.
Of these the most important is People. And that is why I am today announcing a new board level position, Chief Talent Officer. The CTO will focus in on our people globally and ensure we have the very best talent mix we can. I am delighted to tell you that this position will be filled by Keith Buxton who is currently chairman of a-b glöbâl UK. Keith has an unrivaled track record in managing talent. He will add unique leadership and powerful insight to all our talent nurturing initiatives going forward.
I love you all
Barry
From: Martin Lukes
To: Graham Wallace
Talent officer? Is that glorified HR or what? Sounds v flakey to me. So are you going to apply for Keith’s job??
From: Martin Lukes
To: Keith Buxton
Hi Keith
Congratulations! Really well deserved promotion. I’ve always passionately believed that the talent space is very underdeveloped. Get the talent pool right and everything else flows from that. When are you off?
Any news yet on a successor? I’ve got some views on this. Could we have some face time soonest?
All my very bestest
Martin
MARCH 8
From: Martin Lukes
To: Pandora@CoachworX!
Hi Pandora—
Sorry it’s taken me a while to get back—I’ve just learned that Keith is going to Atlanta, so the top UK job is up for grabs.
So that’s my number one dream—to be chairman of a-b glöbâl (UK). Timing is perfect for me—this time I’m going to come out on top.
Btw You were spot on re my artwork. The only thing I’d say is that when I drew the white circle I meant it to be a golf ball, but you’re right, it works just as well as a guiding star!!
22.5 percent better than my very bestest
Martin
From: Pandora@CoachworX!
To: Martin Lukes
Hi Martin
I love your dream! I love your confidence! What you need is a plan to ensure you succeed. Remember you can have whatever you want. You need to want it enough, and you need to follow the GROW! model.
This is a four step process. Goals, Reality, Options and Will.
Under each of these titles I want you to tell me how you are going to get this job!
Strive and thrive!
Pandora
PS Can you check with your payments department if there is a problem. In the contract it specifies that payments must be made AT THE BEGINNING of the month.
From: Martin Lukes
To: Pandora@CoachworX!
Hi Pandora
Here is the outline of my GROW model. Just a first draft at this stage.
GOAL
To be appointed chairman of a-b glöbâl UK
REALITY
There are six possible internal candidates—Roger, Faith, Graham, Cindy, Christo and myself. Rog is too much of a numbers man, Faith is totally ignorant of everything outside HR, but has got one massive thing going for her—she’s a woman. Cindy is a possibility, though if she’s having a scene with Barry (which is what my Atlanta sources tell me) he won’t want her 4000 miles away. Graham doesn’t have the skillsets. Christo’s a total outsider, though very much flavor of the month. He’s my mentee, so this would be worst case for me.
Which leaves myself, with well aligned skillsets, comprising the obvious choice!
OPTIONS
I need to lobby relentlessly with Keith and Barry. Although Keith won’t be making the choice, Barry will certainly listen to what he says.
WILL
I have the will to do this. I will turn all stumbling blocks into stepping stones. I believe in myself, and I believe this job will be mine!
22.5 percent better than my bestest
Martin
MARCH 9
From: Faith Preston
To: All team leaders
Hi!
A reminder that all Work and Development Plans MUST be signed off by the end of the day today and returned to myself. These documents are the most important score card of all co-colleagues’ performance.
Faith
From: Martin Lukes
To: Keith Buxton
Keith—That’s great! What can I say? I’d be delighted to stand in for you! It’s ages since I was last at St. Andrews.
On a different matter, could we share some face time soonest? I’d like to talk through my ideas for a-b glöbâl (UK) going forward. Have you got a window to discuss today or tomorrow?
Best, Martin
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jenny Withers
Darling—Keith has just asked me to take his place at the St. Andrews Old Course this weekend!! It’s a charity do—it’s going to be brilliant networking!
The fact he’s picked me to replace him on the golf thing strongly suggests that I’m his chosen successor!! Graham and Roger will be FURIOUS!!! Sorry about leaving you in the lurch with Max.
Love you M xx
From: Martin Lukes
To: Max Lukes
Max old man
Sorry I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to take you to Stamford Bridge for your birthday on Sat. But worry not, Svetlana will go instead. Will make it up to you next weekend. Promise.
Dad xx
From: Keith Buxton
To: All Staff
Hallo everyone!
Many thanks to all of you who have offered me congratulations on my promotion. I am, of course, extremely excited about this opportunity.
Next week our CEO, Barry Malone, will be visiting us from Atlanta. The time frame is very tight. Barry has requested that this day be highly informal. He is here to listen and to learn. Attached is his schedule.
7:30 BSM arrives Wharfside. Briefing by KB
8:00 BSM and CC have working breakfast with department heads
9:00 Walkabout with KB and JW
10:00 Informal briefing by BSM “5Ps to achieve PPP.”
12:00 Action meal attended by cross section of staff
2:00 CC to all
staff on “Pushing the Morale Envelope in Europe”
4:30 BSM debriefed by KB
I know I can count on all of you to make the day a great success.
Keith
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jenny Withers
Jens—How come you get to show him around??
Mx
From: Martin Lukes
To: Barry Malone
Hi Barry
Delighted to hear that you are crossing the pond next week. I wondered if I could beg a few minutes of your time to tell you about some blue sky thinking I’ve been doing re the role of a-b glöbâl UK. As marketing director I am uniquely well placed to assess our strengths and weaknesses as a corporate brand. I believe that we are currently at an inflexion point—the challenge is to harness our talent to create a proactive headset that will take us from good to great.
I would be delighted to meet with you when you are in London to discuss these ideas.
All my very bestest
Martin
From: Martin Lukes
To: Phyllis Lukes
Dear Mum
Sorry I couldn’t get down to see you at the weekend. Happy Birthday for next Tuesday. Great news about the knee op … you’ll be a new woman once it’s done!
I’ve got some very good news too. You know I’ve been a bit cheesed off at work recently? Well I’m in line for a big job, running the whole outfit in the UK. That means 1,000 people, and your loving son would be in charge of all of them!
I know you think all this coaching stuff is just mumbo jumbo, and obviously I was pretty skeptical at first, but I actually think Pandora’s doing me a lot of good.
Boys are both fine. Max is on the school debating team, and is leading a debate on immigration. “This house believes immigration has undermined the nature of Britishness.” You’d be right behind him on that!
Don’t go on fussing about the shelves, mum. I’ll do them next time, but for now can’t you get the home help to pile all the stuff into the cupboard, and I’ll sort next time I come?
Lots and lots of love
Martin
MARCH 10
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jenny Withers
Darling—Jake’s housemaster just left a message saying that Jake and Tarquin have been drinking Bacardi Breezers on the school premises, and they are both suspended. Next time either of them steps one foot out of line, they get expelled. Can you sort it? He needs picking up this pm. M x
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jenny Withers
Jens—No I can’t ring Tarquin’s mother. I don’t have her number, and I’m preparing one of the most important presentations of my life, and I still haven’t got these sodding WDPs done for Faith.
I know you’ve got your Lunch and Learn today, but can’t Lucinda do it instead?
The little bugger has picked the worst possible time to do this.
M
From: Martin Lukes
To: Christo Weinberg
Christo—Attached is your latest Work Devleopment Plan. Let me know if you are in agreement, and I’ll sign off on it. Martin
Name: Christo Weinberg
Position: Assistant Brand Evangelist
Christo has achieved some creative successes over the past six months; he develops own capabilities, and improves business processes. However, there are issues around his ability to work effectively with others. He needs to demonstrate integrity and high personal standards, and needs to support the development of others’ creativity. He shows enthusiasm in giving time to non-work activities. While this is to be encouraged, it is a pity if it is allowed to interfere with his work. I recommend he attends a refresher course in Teamskills and three-day residential seminar on How to Work Effectively with Others. His progress will be reviewed at the next WDP in six months’ time.
Signed by
Countersigned by
From: Martin Lukes
To: Christo Weinberg
Hi Christo
I’m sorry that you are not comfortable with the WDP. This is actually a highly balanced assessment, with positives and negatives.
As we discussed in our mentoring session, you need to get better at receiving feedback. It is only by recognizing weaknesses and building self knowledge that one shifts performance onto the next level.
Martin
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jenny Withers
OK—I’ll deal with the headmaster, but frankly, Jens, I think we need to talk about this. Basically, I don’t feel you’re being at all supportive of me. I sometimes get the idea that you don’t care if I become the next UK chairman or not. I also think you’re getting a bit over-intense about your job. At the end of the day, no one ever said on their deathbed: I wish I had spent more time in the office!
Martin
From: Martin Lukes
To: Headmaster@MillgateSchool
Dear Mr. Pitman
Thank you for your message. I’m very sorry to learn about the incident this afternoon, concerning my son, Jake. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank yourself and the school for taking swift action.
You ask if there is anything wrong at home that might explain the lad’s behavior. As you are probably aware, we are a very tight-knit, supportive family, with traditional values. The only change since last term is that Jake’s mother has recently had a career change that has resulted in her being more preoccupied than before.
Rest assured that she and myself will talk to Jake when he gets home. I am certain that this is a one-time thing and will ensure that this unfortunate type of occurance does not happen again.
Jake, as you know, is an exceedingly talented lad who needs the right sort of motivational program in order to unleash his true potential, which I am confident is very substantial.
Yours very sincerely
Martin Lukes
From: Martin Lukes
To: Jake Lukes
Jake—
I have just had to grovel to your headmaster on yr behalf which is NOT an experience I enjoy. You are a complete idiot, and are now grounded. You have no allowance, no telephone. You are going to spend the rest of the week at home, working. Svetlana will pick you up at about 4ish.
Dad
From: Martin Lukes
To: Barry Malone
Barry—That’s great! A 6am power hour briefing is good for me, too. I’ve always been an early riser! Looking forward to meeting with you.
Martin
MARCH 15
From: Martin Lukes
To: Graham Wallace
Graham—
Great weekend at St. Andrews. The course was in fantastic condition and the weather also came up trumps. Some of the tee shots are semi-blind which adds to the enjoyment. But my driving was in good nick, and best of all, I birdied the last after hitting a drive and a 9 iron to six feet!!! A small crowd around the 18th will bear witness to my score.
And guess who I bumped into at the 19th hole? Lord Browne! I actually felt pretty sorry for him, BP’s obviously got succession problems of its own. He’s actually a nice guy, and we really bonded. I gave him some advice on how he should rebrand himself to get back on top. He hinted that if things don’t work out for me here, there might be openings at BP … though Keith has indicated to me in private that they have already made up their minds …
M
PS Are you meeting BSM when he’s over? He’s requested an audience with yours truly …
MARCH 17
From: Martin Lukes
To: Barry Malone
Hi Barry
Just to say how very stimulated I was by our discussion this morning. These are all issues that are very close to my heart—I am highly passionate about a-b glöbâl (UK)—as you may have gathered!
Here in London we are a close-knit high-performing team. All credit to Keith, who has done a better-than-excellent job as chairman. However, as I said to you, I believe there is still plenty of low-hanging fruit that w
e can use to leverage our performance still more, and I would like to drive that process.
All my very bestest
Martin
MARCH 18
From: Martin Lukes
To: Pandora@CoachworX!
Hi Pandora
Had a very interesting pre-breakfast meeting with Barry yesterday. The day started badly—the minicab driver didn’t turn up, so I had to drive in, and then I got a bloody wheel clamp. I find it hard to function at 120 percent at 6am, but Barry was firing on all cylinders—the man’s a human dynamo—having been up since 4am running and training.
Unfortunately there was something wrong with the power supply to my laptop, so I couldn’t give him the power point presentation I’d spent the whole weekend preparing. Potential disaster, but actually I think it worked out for the best. Barry’s so informal that he probably preferred just listening to me kick ideas around. I told him about my concept for repositioning a-b glöbâl UK at the heart of Europe. He kept nodding and saying “Uh huh! Uh huh! I can feel your passion.”
He didn’t ask any questions at all about me, which you might think was a bad sign, but we really bonded on an intellectual level, which was more important than anything.
I did exactly what you said and was focused, focused, focused! My creativity came across strongly as did my communication skills. Not sure about my humor. I made a couple of good jokes which he didn’t laugh at, but then Americans don’t have a sense of humor. I sent Barry a message immediately afterwards saying how much I enjoyed our meeting, but have got nothing back, as yet.
Who Moved My Blackberry? Page 6