How to Get Ahead Without Murdering Your Boss

by Helen Burton

  Yasmin picked up her bag and looked lost.

  "There are umbrellas just there in the hallstand or if you would like to wait I'll walk with you to your cabin," said Lou.

  Yasmin stuck out her chin. "I'll find my way thanks." She shouldered her bag and headed out the door with her map in hand.

  Lou continued to efficiently assign cabins and give out maps and keys. As she gave a key to Kylie she asked, "I believe that you have your own programme this weekend but you have given me the times for meals?"

  "Yes that's right. I'd like to also look at the seminar room so I can set up ready for the morning."

  "Of course, I'll just make sure everyone is settled and then I'll come and get you and show you around if you like?"

  "Yes thank you." Kylie grabbed the long handle of her bag and started to wheel it towards the door.

  "Well dinner is at 7pm in the dining room marked on the map. It's just the second door here on the right. If you would like a drink beforehand, the bar will be open from six."

  "Wait a minute. Let me guess." The tie had been gradually loosened until it was now sticking out of his top pocket. The alcohol was kicking in and he was starting to relax. "I think I know where you are headed with the external…."

  "External image," offered Paul.

  "Yes. Its Arnold, isn't it? The CEO? He thinks he's a ladies' man, bit of a player, envied by the boys and irresistible to the girls," David said. "But really everyone hates his guts." He sat back looking satisfied. "And he's the one who gets murdered."

  "You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Paul smiled. "We'll see. But you're right about his self image being the complete opposite of his External image. Not congruent, as my missus would say."

  "So, if someone wanted to find out how they were perceived, how…" David looked at Paul, leaving the question unasked.

  "How would they go about it? Well there are these exercises in the book, but basically you have the guts to start asking a few trusted people, what others really think of you. So choosing the right people's important. Don't choose someone who's going to tread too softly, but don't ask some smart aleck who's going to put the boot in either."

  David was rubbing his chin and frowning.

  "You look like you might have someone in mind already,"

  said Paul.

  "Yeah, I think I might." David suddenly stretched and looked around. "So far so good."

  "Well don't get too cocky mate, there's a few stages yet to go." Paul cocked an eyebrow. "Like you haven't heard the best bit about how I win the heart of the girl with my good looks and charm." Paul winked.

  David groaned. "What were you saying about how we think we are perceived versus the reality?"

  "Yeah, yeah, alright. I'll let you judge for yourself."

  Summary

  Self-understanding and identity

  To clarify your understanding of your identity you will need to consider:

  Your current level of job satisfaction,

  How employable you are if you couldn't continue in your current role,

  The impact of partner and family on your career options,

  Your values,

  Your work and personality preferences,

  Your skills,

  Your interests.

  External image

  To clarify how others perceive you, you will need to explore:

  How you are perceived by your boss, colleagues and/or customers,

  What mechanisms you have in place to obtain feedback from others on how they view you. What strengths and weaknesses would they identify?

  How well networked you are,

  What your reputation is in your occupational group, your industry and your geographic marketplace,

  In short, who do you know and what would they say about you?

  6

  Lou continued to hand out keys and assign cabins. Within a few minutes everyone had dispersed. She was aware that Paul had been leaning up against a wall, arms folded. "Are you ready for me?" he asked.

  "Yes I am so sorry Mr..." Lou moved forward and extended her hand. "Thank you for your patience."

  "Handy," Paul took the hand and shook it firmly. "No worries. And it's Paul by the way. They look like they might keep you busy this weekend." He nodded at the retreating backs of the Medivalue team.

  "Yes," she smiled, "but then that's what they pay me for."

  "And they pay well from the looks of this place. It's pretty flash." His admiring gaze took in the liberal use of wood, stone and plush fabrics. "This is a beautiful place."

  "Thank you. It was hard work getting it built but every day I wake up and look out at the view I realize it was worth it." She shook her head slowly. "Even when there are problems, and even though I still have to answer to my investors." Her gaze took in the vista outside the floor to ceiling glass walls.

  "What problems do you have?"

  "Well getting and keeping staff up here is a problem. I'm afraid I'm doing the work of three people this weekend. And so is getting tradesmen to come all the way out here so I appreciate you coming." She looked him up and down and liked what she saw.

  He was a bit rough around the edges but with a look in his eyes that somehow put her off balance. She wasn't used to being confused by people. She prided herself on being able to read them pretty well.

  Lou realized she had been staring with a stupid smile on her face. She became brisk. "Well, before I start looking after my other guests, let me give you the keys to your cabin and show you the major issues and then perhaps you could give me an estimate of what you think it will take. Would you like an umbrella?"

  "Nah a little water never hurt anyone. I've got a jacket in my pack if I need it."

  Lou grabbed a large yellow rainparka from the row of hooks near the door and led him back out into the rain. She escorted him to his cabin which, like the others, was surrounded and partially hidden by thick bush.

  "Ring-tailed Possum?" smiled Paul, looking at the name on his cabin.

  "Well the Japanese tourists like it," said Lou as she unlocked the door and led him inside.

  "I'm sure they do," said Paul as he dumped his knapsack on the plush king-sized bed and looked at the rest of the luxurious interior.

  "You can't see any of the other cabins from here?"

  "No you can't see anything from any of the cabins, except the view. It was designed that way" said Lou, pulling back the curtains.

  "A good place for honeymooners then." Paul stood next to her and peered out the windows. "Got any binoculars?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

  "No I don't. And yes we do get a lot of honeymooners." It was a strange comment for a man to make. Lou was tempted to ask him if he had any plans and couldn't help noticing he had no wedding ring. She also noticed his wide shoulders, strong forearms and comfortable-fitting jeans.

  He caught her looking at him and smiled.

  "Right Mr…, sorry Paul," Lou became business-like, "I'll take you on a tour and show you what needs to be fixed."

  Half an hour later Paul strolled back to his cabin to grab his toolbox and get started. The smaller problems were okay but the generator looked a little nasty. He dug out a jacket from his pack, turned up the collar and dashed through the rain. It was coming down hard now and if he had correctly assessed what he had seen then he needed to work quickly or they might have a very dark and cold weekend.

  On her way back to reception Lou noticed a figure outside in the rain, heading for the cliff. Peering into the gathering dark she recognised Arnold Strong striding towards the cliff. Surveying his territory. No umbrella for him. Man against the elements obviously. She wondered if she should go after him and warn him against straying too far from the lodge in the fading light. She was still weighing up the pros and cons of Strong's safety versus risking his patronizing manner when her thoughts were interrupted by a muffled crash from the kitchen. Cursing her absent staff, she set off to investigate.

  7

  The well-built lodge was a haven again
st the howling winds that were becoming more threatening, and by cocktail hour most of the guests had already gravitated to its solid walls. Paul arrived at the door to the bar, shaking out the water from his jacket. The older man was sitting drinking by himself near the fireplace. By the windows Nathan was speaking to Kylie, his manner suggesting it was a life or death issue. Yasmin was looking bored and flipping through some magazines in the corner. Paul strolled over to the bar. Lou had changed into a black dress, swept up her hair and was serving behind the bar.

  "You clean up well."

  Lou looked at him. "Gee thanks. I feel so good about myself now."

  "Can't take a compliment."

  "Is that what that was? You need to come with instructions."

  "Oh I'm not that hard to work out. Cascade Light thanks luv," said Paul, making himself at home on one of the bar stools. After the first sip he turned and surveyed the room.

  "Well well well, here we all are drinking on the company tab." Arnold strode in and filled the room.

  He went to the bar and sat on the stool next to Paul. "Do you have any wine worth drinking in this place?" he asked Lou.

  "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with what's available, sir," said Lou, handing him a wine list.

  After a few minutes careful consideration, "Hmmm, well I guess this will have to do. Open a bottle of the Hardy's cab sav and just put it on the account."

  Lou poured him a generous glass before disappearing towards the kitchen.

  Paul took another sip of his beer and casually picked up the wine list. Arnold had chosen the most expensive bottle. Paul knew a little about wines, his father had been manager on a vineyard, and he knew enough to know that Arnold had chosen the most expensive wine, not the best, or the most appropriate.

  Lou came back into the lounge. "Dinner is served, if you would like to follow me, please." She turned into the dining room. The guests got to their feet and followed her. Kylie spotted Paul and zeroed in on him. "Paul is it? Why don't you join us?" She smiled like a cat that got the cream but that reminded him of a mean old cat his mother once owned. He was a dog person himself. Kylie tossed her hair and took his arm. "Tell me all about yourself."

  "Well that will take care of the first two minutes of dinner table conversation," said Paul. Kylie laughed a little too loudly as she lead him away.

  "Well I wouldn't want to have to go through many of those dinners again," Paul said. "I'm actually kind of glad that the power went off. Any more business bullshit and I would've started throwing the cutlery. Can you hold the torch a little higher?" Paul wiped a greasy hand across his forehead as he squinted at the ailing generator.

  Lou adjusted her grip. "Hmmm. That's just what I need — a roomful of pissed off and pissed high paying executives staying at a resort with no power. I'm just glad the power didn't go out until everyone had at least been served their desserts." The door banged shut. "Jeepers! And I just heard on the radio that the cyclone's changed course again." Paul paused and looked at her.

  "Yeah?"

  "Yeah," she sighed. "Not my weekend."

  "Yeah well I'm sorry but this doesn't look good. I'm going to be able to keep this going for the moment but I don't know how long it'll last. I need to get some parts. I'll go back to town in the morning and see what I can get."

  "You might not be able to get back. The road's out and the ferry's not due until Sunday afternoon."

  "Better get busy distributing some candles then. At least with the candlelight it might turn into a romantic weekend."

  Lou laughed. "I think there's more office politics than romance going on in that group somehow."

  "Oh I don't know." Paul sat back on his heels and gave the side of the generator a thump with the flat of his hand. "I think Mr Strong is expecting some romantic entanglements this weekend. He and his PA seem very cosy. More light over here please."

  Lou leant over Paul holding the torch steady. "Yes I noticed that. But I also noticed that he took a long call from his wife during dinner."

  "Well remind me never to try and fool you. You are far too clever." He got to his feet slowly and winced as he rubbed a knee. "Ready to go."

  Lou snapped off the torch as the light came on in the shed. She opened the door and it blew shut. "It's getting bad out there. I need to go around and check that everything's tied down."

  "Need a hand? You don't look like you're dressed for tramping through the rainforest." He looked at her black slip of a dress covered by an over-large yellow raincoat.

  She shook out the raincoat a little and scattered drops on the floor. "I sure could. Thanks."

  Paul got ready to open the door and make a run for the lodge. "Do your guests need to be told?"

  "Let's tell them the cyclone's coming but not about the power situation."

  "Sure thing. I don't think that will be difficult anyway. When we left it looked like they were all going to have a very long and drunken night."

  Paul gasped as Lou opened the door and the wind blew away his words. She wrapped her raincoat and pulled the hood over her head and they hurried towards the lodge. Circling the building Paul and Lou locked doors, shut windows and put away tools lying around. They grabbed all of the spare torches they could find and made for the kitchen door.

  Pausing behind the kitchen out of the wind, Lou yelled, "I need to go in and let the chef know what's going on and give out some more candles and torches."

  "I'll go around and check all the cabins if you like."

  "Thank you." Lou flashed him a quick smile which warmed him despite the cold and then she was gone.

  8

  Paul pulled his Drizabone tighter and headed towards the nearest cabin. It was difficult terrain to traverse in the dark, and he stumbled from time to time. Everything seemed secure, and he was heading towards the last cabin, when he saw a flash and realized that someone was sheltering beneath the verandah. The flash of light was followed by a hiss and a yell. Paul was tempted to remain in the dark and sneak past but with the cyclone coming he thought he should at least warn whoever it was to get inside.

  He turned up the path to the cabin and hurried to the verandah. As he got closer, he heard angry voices and then Nathan Clearview pushed past him, muttering under his breath, "Out of my way."

  "Hey, watch it mate."

  Arnold Strong appeared and shouted above the rain. "And don't you forget it Clearview. You think you're next in line —you've got no chance. Backstabbing bastard." Strong peered into the storm. "Who's that?"

  "It's Paul," he said, joining him on the verandah. "What was that all about?"

  "Oh just the usual vultures circling," Strong replied, heading back inside. Paul followed him, shaking out his coat. "Everyone in the company thinks I'm about to retire or die and wants to get in on the act. I can't trust any of them."

  Paul noticed a nearly empty bottle of scotch on the sideboard and suspected Strong was settling in for a long night and wanted some company.

  Strong went over to the mini bar. "You run your own business, right?"

  "Yes in a manner of speaking. I'm a contractor." Paul shut the door against the wind and leaned against it.

  "You have plans to grow the business? Want to be a wealthy man?"

  "No I'm pretty keen to avoid all of that actually. Just me on my own is fine. Too much paperwork as it is."

  Arnold Strong poured himself a drink. "Want a touch?"

  Paul shook his head. "No thanks mate, I'd better keep my wits about me with this cyclone about. I might need to do some more repairs."

  Strong sank into an armchair. "So just you, eh? Take my advice and keep it that way. Then you won't have any employees snapping at your heels. I've been in business for over thirty years. I've owned every kind of business, sold real estate, worked in banking — hell I even had a restaurant for a while — and the staff have always been the biggest headache."

  "Yeah well, nothing's stopping you leaving is there?"

  "What and give them the satisfaction of re
placing me just when the company's about to go global?"

  "Yeah?" Paul tried to appear interested but edged closer to the door.

  "We're just about to sign a lucrative deal with a Chinese manufacturer. I am about to become a very rich man and I'm not going to let a bunch of bloodsuckers take it away from me."

  Paul held up his hands in mock defence.

  "Okay, mate, whatever you reckon. Look, I'm just going around trying to warn people that the cyclone's changed course and is heading back this way. You might want to think of joining us back in the lodge. It's the strongest building."

  "What? Nonsense. Cyclones never hit here. Besides, I can look after myself. I'll grab a couple more bottles and settle in here for the night."

  "Suit yourself. I'll…"

  There was a knocking at the door.

  Paul leaned over and opened the door.

  "Arnold I was worried…," Yasmin Perfect rushed in with the wind, chattering and soaked through.

  She saw Paul and her manner changed. "Arnold, we were worried, I was just coming to, to see if you wanted to join us in the lodge."

  Arnold smiled. "Well that's very considerate darling. Paul here was also very concerned for my welfare. Seems I'm very popular tonight."

  "Well I'll leave you to it then," Paul smirked as he closed the door behind him.

  He pulled his collar higher and headed back to the lodge.

  9

  Back in the kitchen, Lou was organizing supplies with the chef. "Thanks so much for a wonderful dinner, Clara. It must have been difficult with the power going on and off."

  Clara lifted a box effortlessly with her muscular arms. "Yes, well I'm used to rough cooking. Ten years in a top Sydney restaurant, it can get cutthroat. I'd much rather handle a few power shortages than the knife-throwing histrionics of your average big city chef."