The Ideal Team Player

Jeff, Clare, and Bobby talk about the challenges they face with hiring the staff they need for two simultaneous projects. They figure that while they likely need 60 new hires, because of the turnover, that number is closer to 90-100. Clare and Bobby see this as unrealistic, especially given their time constraints. On the other hand, Jeff sees it differently. He argues that the company’s efficiency will increase drastically if a true team culture is instilled in the workforce. He also learns of a prior project in which the company had renovated a school. During the project, one of the lead engineers left the company, while another engineer who had caused problems was allowed to stay. This kind of pattern in the company is what Jeff hopes to change. Jeff proposes the most direct way to initiate immediate change is to figure out who the problem employees are, offer them an opportunity to change their ways, and, if they don’t, let them go.

As the three continue their conversation, Jeff asks Bobby and Clare what drew them to Bob and to the company. Bobby points out an anecdote in which Bob had treated, and spoken to, a rich client in the same manner as he had with the day laborers who were working on a stone-laying project.