Lexa Hackett walked up the steps to the Grieg Industries entrance and through the door into the lobby. Two women smiled at her from behind a reception desk. Ignoring the moustachioed security guard who was eyeing her specially, Lexa went straight to the reception desk.
"Welcome to Grieg Industries!" said one of the receptionists.
"Hello, yes", said Lexa. "I was wondering if I could talk to someone from Personnel. I'd like to know what's the best way to go about applying for a job".
"We do not have a Personnel Section here in Grieg Industries".
"We have a Human Potential Nexus".
"I see", said Lexa. "So could I talk to someone from, eh, Human Potential?"
"Well it is more usual that people send in their CVs. Then Human Potential contacts them if they think that they have what it takes to Grow With Grieg".
"Here's the address to send your CV to", said the other receptionist, handing Lexa a card. "And the URL for our Human Potential Nexus website, where everything is explained".
"I understand", said Lexa. "I know that would be the more usual way of doing things, but it's just that I happened to be in the area anyway, and it seemed handiest to drop in. I don't have a CV with me, but is there any possibility at all that someone from Human Potential could meet me just for five minutes? I would really like to get an idea of what kind of people you are looking for here."
The two receptionists looked at each other, unsure what to do.
"Could you ring Human Potential and see if there was anyone free to see me? I know it's a terrible imposition, but it would be great help".
"OK", said the receptionist on the right. "I'll ring Human Potential. Can you give me your name, please?"
"Alison Quinn", said Lexa. Like she was going to give her real name?
The receptionist had picked up the phone and was already dialling, and then she was talking into her phone. "Hello... Yes, this is Suzie on reception. There's a lady here, a Ms Alison Quinn, she was wondering if there was anyone there who could talk about our absorption process… Yes, I told her that, but she was saying it would be…. Alright, I'll let her know. Bye". She put down the phone and smiled at Lexa. "Please take a seat, Ms Quinn. Someone from Human Potential will be with you shortly".
Lexa sat and looked around the lobby. It was tastefully decorated in a minimalist style, with the walls displaying some abstract artworks. The only representational item on the wall was a large photographic portrait of a smiling Sigismund Grieg.
There were a couple of magazines lying on a table in front of Lexa. They all seemed to be in-house Grieg Industries publications, with all but one boasting a picture of Sigismund's smiling face on the cover. Flicking through one of them Lexa still found herself at a loss as to what exactly it was that Grieg Industries did.
Then she was conscious of a smiling man in a suit walking towards her. He, naturally, had a moustache. "Hello Ms Quinn!" he said cheerily. She stood to meet him and he shook her hand. "My name is Toby Marshall. It really is a pleasure to meet you. Please come this way and we can have a chat and get to know each other".
"I really am very grateful that you've been able to find the time to meet me, Mr Marshall".
"Oh please, call me Toby, everyone else does. And I'm always happy to meet new people". From the way he beamed at her Lexa thought that he might actually mean it. She followed him into a small meeting room and they sat at a small table.
"So, Ms Quinn –" Toby began.
"Oh please", interrupted Lexa. "Call me Alison."
"Sure, Alison. Well Alison, I'd like to start off by thanking you for your interest in what we're doing here at Grieg Industries. We're a company here that is really trying to make a difference, and you have no idea how happy we feel when we see someone who understands what we are trying to do".
Lexa smiled back at him. "Thank you again for seeing me, Toby, I'm sure you must be a very busy man".
"Oh I am, I am. We're all very busy here. This is not a place for people who want to sit back and do nothing, Alison, as I'm sure you know".
"That's certainly what I've heard. And believe me, I am not a person who likes to be idle".
Toby pointed at her with the index fingers of both hands. "Nice! And you're looking to join us?"
"Yes, I am. I was trying to find out what's the best way to apply for a position here, and what kind of vacancies you have".
"Well Alison, we're not like other companies. We don't have a Personnel Section or a Human Resources Unit, we have a Human Potential Nexus. That's where I work. We help people to fulfil their potential. So when we look at people who want to come and join us, we have to look at them and see what their potential is, then see how they could achieve that potential here at Grieg. We don't have vacancies or jobs that we try and fill here. We look at the person who comes to us, and we create the environment in which they can do what they need to do. Every person we take in, we create a unique working experience for them, so that they can maximise their ability to achieve their potential. And we do that after we've found the person we want, not before. There are no roles here independent of the person filling them".
"I see". Lexa was not actually sure that she saw anything.
"It's all part of our philosophy. Part of Sigismund Grieg's philosophy. And I don't just mean that as a figure of speech. When I say 'philosophy' I mean more than just the way a company works, I mean a real philosophy, a real view of how people can live and work together, how we can all make this world a better place. Sigismund Grieg, he's not just some computer whizzkid with a head for business, though he is that as well. He's a visionary, a man who can see beyond what the rest of us see. The kind of guy who comes along once every thousand years. He has a vision for a new world, a better world, a world we can all play our part in building. That's what guides what we do here, Alison. That's what we're thinking about all the time. How to push things forward, how to help people. This isn't about working and earning a salary, and it's not about making and selling products either. This is a whole new world we're creating. It starts here in Grieg Industries, and then we bring everybody else onboard with us".
"Oh yes, Toby! That's what I want to do – I want to help build this world!"
"Yes Alison, yes, you can do that. You can join us. I think you have what it takes". He took her hand in his.
"I hope so, I really hope so".
Toby exhaled and released Lexa's hand. "Well Alison, I've got to get back to building that better world. But I think you'll be building it with us soon. Suzie gave you the card with our e-mail address? Good. Send your CV in, say what you can do, and tell us how you want to help us. I think we can release your potential".
"Thanks Toby, I'll do that".
He stood up. She did too. The short meeting was over. Toby walked Lexa back to the lobby, shook her hand again, and bade her farewell. He walked away into the building. Lexa turned towards the door out of the building, and then turned around again to approach the reception desk. The two receptionists were smiling at her, albeit with a questioning look in their eyes. Lexa smiled back at them, nervously.
"I was wondering", she said, "if there was a bathroom here I could use?"
The receptionists continued smiling, looked at each other, and then looked back at Lexa.
"Yes there is", said the one on the left.
"John will bring you there", said the one on the right. She summoned the moustachioed security guard and said, "Can you bring Ms Quinn to the ladies bathroom?"
The security guard nodded. "This way, Ms Quinn". He led Lexa out of the lobby, down a corridor, and to the toilet for women. He indicated the door. "I'll wait here", he said.
"Oh, no need, I can find my own way out".
"I'll wait here".
Lexa went into the toilet and then came out again after what she judged would be a reasonable length of time to be in there. The security guard was still waiting. He smiled.
"This way, Ms Quinn".
He walked with her to the lobby.
"Bye now!" said the receptionist on the left.
"Bye now!" said the receptionist on the right.
"See you later!" said the security guard.
"Bye!" said Lexa, trying to get into the Grieg Industries spirit.
She walked down the street from the office building. When she felt that she had walked far enough she took out her phone and rang Claire.
"Hello Rebecca!" she said, realising that she was still being as cheerful as all the people in Grieg Industries. "Are you still free to meet for coffee? Great!"
20/11/2011
An inuit panda production
0 comments:
Post a Comment