Looking at the words people use can tell us more than they ever meant to convey. Here’s an example from a business email reply. At first read, it might seem like it comes from someone with strong views who’s working hard to keep the money coming in. But as we’ll see this is potentially toxic.
From: Chairman
Can we all be ready to present our updates to the investors tomorrow at ten please. Gordon has suggested that, in line with our strategy, we don’t just cover the revenue from our electric and hybrid car sales but also highlight the difference we are making to the environment and also the lives of the owners with these sales.
Reply from: Ali
I won't be able to attend as meeting in Gateshead showroom on new models then off to Newcastle to All Star Engineering.
Jenny is aware of car sales so she will be able to update.
On Gordons comments - I don’t disagree however on car sales the focus is very much on the revenue as the aim is to hit as big a level of sales with as big a top-line profit as possible which is always good to report.
When the cars are delivered it is great to reflect and present with stills/video to show the positive change [redacted company name] has made to the environment or driver, that way we report on both.
Let’s break it down:
You’re doing what?
I won't be able to attend as meeting in Gateshead showroom on new models then off to Newcastle to All Star Engineering.
Firstly, what would we expect if someone can’t be at the meeting? A reason why. Here we get three reasons why. The meeting in Gateshead, the travel to Newcastle and the meeting in Newcastle. Only one of them can be true.
So we’ve got someone who is prepared to deceive.
This first line is from someone who feels they must show off their status, they are too busy doing lots of things to do the presentation, they have important meetings to attend.
Along with status comes power. They haven’t asked for permission to skip the presentation; they’ve told they are not attending.
The question is: does this person have status or are they trying to create their status - if so, why? Insecurity?
Jenny is aware of car sales so she will be able to update.
At first glance this appears helpful but again there’s a demonstration of power. They have volunteered Jenny to do the update, again no request to see if Jenny can do it or if that idea is acceptable.
Note the passivity here. Ali doesn’t say they have made or can make Jenny aware of the sales, just Jenny is aware. There is no offer to help Jenny make or prepare that update.
Singing my own tune
On Gordons comments - I don’t disagree however on car sales the focus is very much on the revenue as the aim is to hit as big a level of sales with as big a top-line profit as possible which is always good to report.
This is the big one. “I don’t disagree however” is saying “i disagree”. This line has repeated mentions of financial measures indicating money is a main focus for this person. What we can’t tell is if they are doing this again to raise status or something bigger.
Note the company strategy is outlined as “making a difference to the environment and their customers lives”. This line is two fingers up at that. Ali’s focus isn’t on the company strategy but on revenue.
And just what is going on with that money? At first glance it’s all important and Ali is getting great sales at a great profit. But look at the vague terms that it is couched in “as big level of sales with as big a top-line level of profit as possible” - repetition of big makes you think these are huge… the “as possible” cancels that out. Maybe one car sold a year at a loss is all that is possible.
The phrase “top-line profit” is a big worry here for me. Without it the sentence means more or less the same thing. But “top-line” has been put in for a reason. Consciously or subconsciously. I would be looking beyond the top-line profit of Ali and seeing what costs and extras are being hidden here. Ali wants to draw attention to top-line profit, by definition saying that final net profit isn’t important, and we shouldn’t be looking at it.
A non-helping hand
When the cars are delivered it is great to reflect and present with stills/video to show the positive change [redacted company name] has made to the environment or driver, that way we report on both.
I have two comments on this final paragraph. The first is that it now seems to agree with the comments that were disagreed in before. I mentioned insecurity earlier and this may be an appeasement so they can point out they’ve been constructive in their comments.
However, take a look at the pronouns in this line. There is one, “we”. Although an alternative is provided it is not one that Ali has taken any ownership of or has given any undertaking to do anything about. There is no commitment there.
In conclusion.
Ali could be toxic to this business.
This is an individual the company should be concerned about. They crave status and power. They are not collaborative at any stage of this email.
They are not working to the company strategy and bold enough to say that outright.
Some companies can work with people like that. They are the mavericks and outliers that make things happen and challenge the status quo. But often these people are hard to manage and in addition Ali doesn’t seem to be contributing much or adding and committing to fresh thoughts here.. quite the reverse.
I’d advise that this company should thoroughly review Ali’s situation. There is proven deceit here on their whereabouts and why they can’t attend the meeting. And a lot of evidence that the financial numbers they are reporting might not be as good as they first appear. They should be checking their reported numbers versus the actual numbers and look for any costs or extras spends that have been accrued or hidden.
Ali is displaying a lack of confidence in something. I’d suggest they are trying to raise themselves to superstar untouchable status but underneath realise their performance isn’t good enough and they are massaging numbers to make it look better.