Jorddyn
10-20-2010, 06:26 PM
This is going to be relatively long, so either leave now or don't complain :tumble:
My company is involved in a growth and development program. Last year was the initial year, and I was in the program along with my boss and my best friend's boss.
This year, it has become a competitive program (rather than by invite), and the first year team is the selection committee, though the executive team will be signing off on our decisions. We have no reason to believe they'll change our selections once they hear our justification. The spots on this year's program are well defined roles, so it involves picking people for the roles, not just picking people.
We had X spots to fill and 3X applicants. My best friend was placed in one of them as every member on our selection committee felt she belonged in the program. She, however, has told me that she doesn't believe she'll be picked. The process of placing applicants in positions took my team approximately 5 hours as we wanted to do justice to the program and the applicants. We are supposed to present our decisions to the executive team in about 2 weeks. Until then, we're not to discuss it with anyone not on the team.
My friend called me today to tell me that more likely than not, she and her husband will be relocating for his job. He'll make a decision tomorrow on whether or not to go into the second interview (he's the only internal candidate), but then the manager is going on vacation for a week, so he won't hear back for... about 2 weeks. She also asked me to not tell anyone at work.
My dilemma:
If I strongly encourage her to talk to her boss about the potential of her leaving, she'll know why, and I've broken my confidentiality pact with my team.
If I don't encourage her, but instead tell my team that we need a backup, I've broken her trust.
If I tell my team, we rearrange, and she doesn't quit, then I've cost her this spot.
If I pose a hypothetical to our consultant, I'm relatively sure she'll bring it to the team, and they will know who I was talking about, so same problem.
If I don't do anything and she quits the day that she's announced as a member of the team, I've not only caused my team more work (re-selection), I've possibly caused the exclusion of a candidate who would otherwise be in the program. My friend took position A, other person took position B, candidate C was excluded. Candidate C would likely have been placed in position B and candidate B would have been placed in position A had my friend not applied. However, Candidate C would never be placed in position A, which means candidate D would be brought in instead.
Additionally, if she quits, every single member of my team will know I knew it was coming as they all know how close she and I are.
Is this confusing enough?
What in the hell do I do?
(My solution: Beer)
My company is involved in a growth and development program. Last year was the initial year, and I was in the program along with my boss and my best friend's boss.
This year, it has become a competitive program (rather than by invite), and the first year team is the selection committee, though the executive team will be signing off on our decisions. We have no reason to believe they'll change our selections once they hear our justification. The spots on this year's program are well defined roles, so it involves picking people for the roles, not just picking people.
We had X spots to fill and 3X applicants. My best friend was placed in one of them as every member on our selection committee felt she belonged in the program. She, however, has told me that she doesn't believe she'll be picked. The process of placing applicants in positions took my team approximately 5 hours as we wanted to do justice to the program and the applicants. We are supposed to present our decisions to the executive team in about 2 weeks. Until then, we're not to discuss it with anyone not on the team.
My friend called me today to tell me that more likely than not, she and her husband will be relocating for his job. He'll make a decision tomorrow on whether or not to go into the second interview (he's the only internal candidate), but then the manager is going on vacation for a week, so he won't hear back for... about 2 weeks. She also asked me to not tell anyone at work.
My dilemma:
If I strongly encourage her to talk to her boss about the potential of her leaving, she'll know why, and I've broken my confidentiality pact with my team.
If I don't encourage her, but instead tell my team that we need a backup, I've broken her trust.
If I tell my team, we rearrange, and she doesn't quit, then I've cost her this spot.
If I pose a hypothetical to our consultant, I'm relatively sure she'll bring it to the team, and they will know who I was talking about, so same problem.
If I don't do anything and she quits the day that she's announced as a member of the team, I've not only caused my team more work (re-selection), I've possibly caused the exclusion of a candidate who would otherwise be in the program. My friend took position A, other person took position B, candidate C was excluded. Candidate C would likely have been placed in position B and candidate B would have been placed in position A had my friend not applied. However, Candidate C would never be placed in position A, which means candidate D would be brought in instead.
Additionally, if she quits, every single member of my team will know I knew it was coming as they all know how close she and I are.
Is this confusing enough?
What in the hell do I do?
(My solution: Beer)