THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE LAUNDRY BILL

Mark Price, former MD of Waitrose, shares his workplace fables – true stories from the business front line that can teach us lessons about career success

The global economy was beginning to falter and the big boss at global booze giant Whisky&more recognised it was time to rein in on costs.

To bring his plan to life, he appointed a Director of Cost Cutting who he charged with leaving no stone unturned in his hunt to save money. He checked every expense claim from the senior team, interviewed the various directors and their PAS and began to prepare his report.

The findings were duly circulated, and he was given half an hour on the agenda of the forthcoming executive committee meeting to explain them. The CEO began reading other papers as the Cost Cutting Director began.

“But have you actually read what’s in here?” pressed one of the wily experienced directors to the CEO.

“It’s got to be done,” snapped back the CEO, avoiding the question.

But the experienced executive wasn’t going to give in that easily. “Do you agree with the stopping of our laundry expenses?”

“What laundry expenses?” asked the CEO, demonstrating that while he had read the summary of the paper, he hadn’t read the detail.

The Cost Cutting Director explained that senior managers, including the CEO, were spending tens of thousands each year on laundry at hotels and this seemed a legitimate area to cut back on. The CEO responded: “My senior team travel the world for weeks on end. I want them to walk into appointments looking sharp, feeling confident, not wearing crumpled suits and shirts.”

“Thank you for your report,” he concluded. “I will tell the board that we conducted a review of senior expenses but no further action is required for now.”

Moral of the tale: Often the small things can make the biggest difference.

Workplace Fables: 147 True Life

Stories, by Mark Price, is published by Stour Publishing on Oct 5. To order your copy for £8.99 plus p&p, call 0844 871 1514 or visit books. telegraph.co.uk

Share your Workplace Fables and learn more about Mark’s mission to improve workplace happiness at businessnourisher.com

‘I want the team to walk into appointments looking sharp’