THE PERSISTENT CALLER AND THE CEO

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 phone rang in the CEO’S outer office. His PA answered.

“Good morning,” said the caller. “Can I speak to Mr Jones, the CEO, please.”

“What is it about?” asked the experienced PA, who received many calls a day from people trying to get hold of her boss to sell him things.

“It’s personal,” said the caller, who insisted that he was a close friend.

He was most persistent, and kept calling every hour to see if the CEO was free. Every time he called, he seemed more frustrated.

When the CEO was free, his PA told him about the caller and how rude he had been to her.

“All of my close friends have my personal mobile number,” the CEO reasoned. “They would call me on that.”

The next time the caller rang, the PA was much more forceful in asking how he knew the CEO, and why he didn’t call his mobile number.

“We are good friends from the past but lost touch when I moved abroad. Sadly, I lost his number, which is why I’m calling through the switchboard,” explained the caller.

“Put him through. I’ll sort this out,” said the CEO. The PA did so. “I represent Mush,” said the caller, “and I was calling to see if you would like to buy paper stationery from us?”

The CEO was unimpressed.

“I don’t buy our stationery paper, that’s done by the buying team. And why would I want to buy from someone who lied in order to talk to me, and upset a member of my staff?

“I will instruct my team never to deal with your company.”

Moral of the tale: A persistent liar will always be found out.

Workplace Fables: 147 True Life Stories, by Mark Price, is published by Stour Publishing. 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 engaging.works/ideas

He was most persistent and kept calling every hour