The Correction

I once saw what had been a fairly close relationship destroyed when one executive challenged another over the latter's conclusions in a report.

The challenge seemed mild but the reason for the extreme reaction was the second executive regarded the particular point of the challenge as an area of expertise, if not pride. By going after that specific issue, the first executive had mounted the equivalent of a personal attack, all more so because it was in front of others.

Had the objection been made privately, I doubt if their relationship would have suffered. They could have thrashed it out quietly and without any suspicion that the dissent was a serious questioning of the author's professionalism.

What added to the problem was the offending party may not have realized the impact of his action. He separated the issue from the man and probably would have been surprised to learn that his words had drawn blood. The others in the room backed away from the issue. Some knew what had happened but assumed the two would work matters out.

They never did.