The Exit Interview

The meeting began at 7:04 AM.

Aditi 2 had called it.

Everyone was nervous.

Aditi 1: Why do I feel like we're in trouble?

Aditi 3: Same.

Aditi 2: Nobody is in trouble.

Aditi 1: That is exactly what someone says before trouble.

Aditi 3: Agreed.

Aditi 2 placed a single sheet of paper on the table.

The title read:

EXIT INTERVIEW

Aditi 1: Oh no.

Aditi 3: Oh no.

Aditi 2: Relax.

Aditi 1: No.

Aditi 3: Hard no.

Aditi 2: Hypothetically.

Aditi 1: Dangerous opening.

Aditi 3: Very dangerous.

Aditi 2: If either of you left the organization...

What feedback would you provide?

The room became quiet.

Aditi 1: That's actually a good question.

Aditi 3: I know.

Aditi 2: Thank you.

Aditi 1: That wasn't praise.

Aditi 2: I've chosen to receive it as praise.

The room paused.

Aditi 3: She's evolving.

Aditi 2: Focus.

Aditi 1: Fine.

If I were leaving?

Aditi 2: Hypothetically.

Aditi 1: I'd say this company has a communication problem.

Aditi 2: Interesting.

Aditi 1: Nobody talks about their feelings until they're three business quarters behind schedule.

Aditi 3: Very true.

Aditi 2: Noted.

Aditi 1: I'd also say leadership occasionally confuses productivity with self-worth.

The room froze.

Aditi 2: Okay.

Aditi 1: And I'd recommend fewer spreadsheets.

Aditi 2: Rejected.

Aditi 1: Expected.

Aditi 2 wrote several notes.

Aditi 3: My turn.

Aditi 2: Proceed.

Aditi 3: I would say this organization is hostile toward experimentation.

Aditi 2: That's ridiculous.

Aditi 3: Every idea I have is greeted with fear.

Aditi 2: Every idea you have costs money.

Aditi 3: Innovation requires investment.

Aditi 2: The marigolds were not innovation.

Aditi 3: Agree to disagree.

Aditi 2: Noted.

Aditi 3: I'd also recommend less urgency.

Aditi 2: What does that mean?

Aditi 3: Not everything is an emergency.

The room became quiet.

Aditi 2: Fair.

Aditi 1: Very fair.

Aditi 2: Anything else?

Aditi 3: Yeah.

The organization should spend more time celebrating wins.

Aditi 1: Ouch.

Aditi 2: Okay.

Aditi 3: We accomplish things.

Then immediately move the goalpost.

Aditi 1: Double ouch.

Aditi 2 looked down at her notes.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Aditi 2: Can I tell you something?

Aditi 1: Sure.

Aditi 3: Sure.

Aditi 2: I thought this meeting would be about what's wrong.

Aditi 1: Yeah?

Aditi 2: But all your feedback is basically the same.

Aditi 3: Which is?

Aditi 2: Slow down.

Aditi 1: Correct.

Aditi 3: Very correct.

Aditi 2: Interesting.

The room sat quietly.

Then Aditi 1 leaned forward.

Aditi 1: Can I ask a question?

Aditi 2: Proceed.

Aditi 1: If you were leaving...

What would your feedback be?

The room became still.

Aditi 3: Good question.

Aditi 2: Hypothetically?

Aditi 1: Hypothetically.

Aditi 2 thought for a long time.

Long enough that both Aditi 1 and Aditi 3 stopped joking.

Aditi 2: I would say...

The people here are extraordinary.

But they don't realize it.

Nobody spoke.

Aditi 2: They keep acting like they're behind.

Or late.

Or unfinished.

When objectively speaking...

They're doing pretty well.

The room became very quiet.

Aditi 1 looked away.

Aditi 3 looked down.

Aditi 2 immediately regretted being sincere.

Aditi 2: Please ignore that.

Aditi 1: No.

Aditi 3: Definitely not.

Narrator:
The Exit Interview concluded at 8:11 AM.

Nobody resigned.

Nobody quit.

Nobody left the organization.

But for the first time in company history, everyone left with surprisingly positive feedback for management.

End of Chapter 22.