The Climb | Episode 3: Good Intentions

Kelly stands perfectly still.

Barry's question hangs in the air.

“What I really need to know is…”

"Any information you can tell me about Jordan?"

Kelly's mind races.

Did something happen?

Is Jordan in trouble?

Did I miss something?

“Kelly. Are you Okay?”

Kelly finally answers.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Barry sits down and leans back in his chair.

“You had me worried for a minute.”

Kelly forces a slight smile.

Barry quickly moves back to the subject.

“So, tell me about Jordan.”

Kelly clasps her hands together.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

Barry attempts to further confirm.

"I thought you two worked together."

"We did. And we still do occasionally."

Barry nods.

"So, tell me about her."

Still unsure about where this conversation is going, Kelly begins to share with caution.

"Jordan's solid. She works hard, people respect her.

"Okay."

Kelly tilts her head.

"Is something wrong?"

A slight smile crosses Barry's face.

"No, just asking."

Kelly's eyebrow rises. She felt they had been skating around the subject long enough, so at this point she was curious to know why he was asking. But right as she was asking the question, Barry’s phone buzzes.

The caller ID says “Wifey”

Barry motions for Kelly to give him a moment.

“Hello. Hey, I can’t talk right now. I know but… As I said... I just can’t talk right now…

Barry pauses and turns his chair around toward the wall.

“Listen…”

Barry’s call ends abruptly. He looks rattled.

“Sorry about that.”

Kelly’s face couldn’t hide her concern.

“Oh, that’s okay. Are you good?”

“Oh yeah, I’m fine. It’s fine.”

Barry let out a long sigh and began clicking through documents on his laptop.

"So anyway, did you get a chance to look over the team metrics and reports I headed to you."

Kelly opened the folder Barry gave her.

"Yes, I did."

Barry nods slowly.

"Okay. Though you have inherited a very high performing team, what improvements can we expect coming into this next quarter. I want us ahead of the game in this area.

As they continue talking...

Neither of them notices two familiar faces pacing past the office windows.

Angela walks by first.

Pretending to look at a bulletin board.

A few seconds later...

Darren strolls past carrying an empty folder.

He glances through the glass.

Angela catches his eye.

"What do you think?"

Darren shrugs.

"I can't tell."

Barry looks up just in time to see Darren quickly turn and study the large potted plant in the hallway.

Barry smiles to himself.

"They're not very subtle."

Kelly turns toward the glass just as Angela suddenly becomes fascinated with a motivational poster on the wall.

Kelly laughs.

"They're making sure I'm not in trouble."

Barry chuckles.

"They're good friends."

"They are," Kelly says.

Barry nods.

"Don't lose people like that. They are harder to come by than you think."

---

Back at her desk, Kelly has barely sat down before someone approaches.

"Hey, Kelly?"

She looks up.

It’s Casey.

Casey smiles nervously.

"My team lead is out today, and I think my manager already left."

Kelly nods.

"Okay..."

"I really need to leave a couple hours early."

"It's important."

Kelly hesitates.

Casey had always been pleasant.

Reliable.

At least from everything Kelly had seen.

"And you say all your immediate leadership team has already left for the day?"

Casey nods yes quickly.

Kelly thinks for a moment.

"Okay."

"Go ahead."

Casey beams with joy.

"Thank you!"

As Casey walks away, Kelly feels good.

Helping people had always come naturally.

---

Less than twenty minutes later...

A voice calls from across the Operations floor.

"Kelly."

She looks up.

It is Joy.

Casey's manager.

Kelly's stomach sinks.

"I need to see you for a minute.

Joy closes her office door.

"I heard you approved Casey to leave."

Kelly nods.

"She said you had already left for the day."

Joy's expression remains calm.

"Well, as you can see..."

She gestures toward herself.

"I'm still here."

Kelly immediately realizes her mistake.

"I'm so sorry Joy."

Joy shakes her head.

"I believe your intentions were good."

She pauses.

"But good intentions aren't enough."

Kelly listens carefully.

"If someone isn't on your team..."

"You need to slow down."

"You need to ask questions."

"And at the very least..."

She points toward the hallway.

"...make sure their leader has actually gone home."

Kelly nods.

"I understand."

Joy softens.

"Casey is a good employee."

"But to be candid, attendance has become an issue lately."

"And I could not have expected you to have known that."

"But Her leader would have."

Kelly leaves Joy's office replaying every decision she'd made.

She wasn't trying to overstep.

She was really just trying to be helpful.

But what she learned is, even when you’re trying to help…you have to do it responsibly.

---

A few minutes later...

Kelly finds herself standing outside Barry's office again.

She knocks lightly.

"Come in."

As the door closes behind her...

Angela and Darren appear at opposite ends of the hallway.

Angela pretends to refill her water bottle.

Darren studies the office directory as if he'd never seen it before.

Angela whispers,

"This time I think she's actually in trouble."

Darren nods.

"I think so too."

Inside the office, Barry motions for Kelly to take a seat.

"I just had a brief chat with Joy."

Kelly nods.

"I figured."

Barry isn't upset.

He's calm.

"Kelly, your heart was in the right place."

"But leadership isn't just about helping."

"It's about making informed decisions, when you do."

As Barry finished his statement, there was a faint knock at the door.

"Come in," Barry called.

Victoria stepped into the office with her usual polished smile.

"Oh, I hope I'm not interrupting."

As she cut her eyes at Angela and Darren who were still standing outside the office.

Angela motioned for Darren to come on before Victoria made an issue out of them being out there.

Victoria gave them a quick smirk. Then dramatically turned her attention back to Barry.

Barry stood up.

"Not at all. "Actually, I didn't know if you two knew each other."

Victoria smiled brightly.

"Of course."

She looked at Kelly.

"Kelly's my buddy."

Before Kelly could react, Victoria stepped forward and gave her an awkward hug.

Kelly forced a smile and awkwardly gave Victoria a tiny pat on her back.

Barry smiled.

"Perfect."

He sits back down in his chair.

"Kelly, I meant to tell you, I volunteered your team to be one of the first groups partnering with the new Process Improvement Journey Team that Victoria is helping lead."

Kelly smiled politely.

"Oh…how fun."

Victoria clasped her hands together.

"Just delightful."

"I'm sure “Kelly the Great” and her team will offer a ton of insight from a frontline perspective."

Kelly smiled.

"I hope so."

“Undoubtedly.”

Victoria insisted.

Just then, Victoria’s phone buzzed.

She glanced down at the screen.

"Oh, excuse me just a second."

She held up one finger toward Barry and Kelly as she stepped back into the hallway.

As she exits, Kelly and Barry could hear her answer the call.

"Victoria Lesley speaking...yes, I’m between meetings as always…well of course you’re not a bother my dear…."

Kelly rubbed her temple and then quietly stood to exit, assuming the meeting was over.

"And Kelly..."

Barry's voice stopped her in her tracks.

She slowly turned around.

Barry folded his hands.

"One more thing."

He paused.

"What is this I hear about you helping someone who's on a PIP that isn't even on your team?"

Kelly closed her eyes for a brief moment and thinks.

So much for good intentions.

Stay tuned for Episode 4:The Work Phone