Chapter 22: Accepting the future

Avery’s point of view

The air in the conference room was charged and everyone felt as though they could cut it with a knife. Their silent panting reached my ears and I realized that saying I quit equals biting the bullet at my workplace. It was the highest level they could come in support and it served as a record. I had moved past the fence of reluctance and started building the character that I now possessed. 

David was standing behind me, which seemed to have our supervisor looking surprised or rather shocked. I could notice the click in her head as she went about racking her brains on how best to handle what I had just said. The whole team had come in and somehow I sensed a glimmer of light in some of the eyes. Had there been such a plan earlier, there sure appeared a way through this storm.

Our supervisor who took some time to take his stance replied something to the effect of: “I was going to bring up that point as well,” Avery said. However, there is a compromise in the requirements that call for restructuring together with the desire to support our teams. As we discussed in our meeting today I’ll try to create a forum where I will post the idea and gather everyone’s opinion. This time, apart from speaking on behalf of others, I’d like to know what you think we should do next.

I could feel a spurt of joy and satisfaction as David looked directly into my eyes and acknowledged the job was fairly done. I could not pretend that my heart did not pound furiously in my chest, but I can admit; that I felt a hint of shakiness. I had marked this moment as mine, and yet, now, standing in this hallway, I felt bold but only because the danger of the situation was not lost on me.

After everyone had all their ideas presented, collective debates began among everybody attending the meeting. People walked up to me, that day, with strange looks of gratitude and disbelief. “Avery, that was incredible!” My name is Elena and she said that, and there was admiration in her tone. “You spoke for all of us.”

“Thanks, Elena. I just felt it was time that we all speak out our concerns,” I said, humoring a smile at the corners of my lips. At that moment, the rivalry that existed previous to the situation became the angle that was supportive between us.

However the days quickly transformed into endless planning sessions and countless strategy meetings, hence it dawned on me that the rumors of company restructuring were not just rumors but the reality that it was very soon. Managers were rating departments, and sifting through numbers, and discussions about the possible layoffs had never been far from people’s minds.

David and I used to come up with ideas on how to convey the importance of the department to the executives during the late nights. They bounced back and forth between me like our vibes were undeniable. Yet, hovering just above us like dark clouds were the questions: Could we stand this change? Could we stick to our posts while other changes were blowing through?

One day we were analyzing data and at some late evening, David looked at me and said: Have you ever thought about what could come next? If such decisions are not in our favor then we both are going to be affected.»

I felt my heart skip a beat. This has always been taking up some of my thinking time. If layoffs do happen, I am not going to back down. We have managed to develop something of value here now. But it’s only going to work if we stand together.”

He nodded, the stiffness around his shoulders dissipating. ‘You have been one to change quickly,’ said the man looking at Avery. I also want to thank you for the solid working relationship that we found. We have to just respond proactively and accurately.”

In his words, a constructive unity was built between him and me that had always felt like it was made from conflict. I had come to terms with the fact that this road map was no longer about organizational drama, but a map of our lives.

Days went by, and languid doubt imbued future appointments or encounters with the veneer of destiny. Ultimately, something happened and the upper management scheduled yet another meeting where they announced that something had been decided.

Beside me, it was obvious that my fellow employees felt the tension of the atmosphere in the room. The tension you get in the air when people are full of fear but have some hope of receiving some good news. I was placed right beside David, and each time our shoulders touched I was reminded that I am not alone in this battle.

The CEO got to the front and positioned herself at the podium with ease despite the apparent grimness on her face. I would like to thank all of you for having accepted the invitation to attend this meeting. I said yes to evaluate our operations generally, but it has not been without some difficulty to inform all of the restructuring that will be happening to remain competitive in the market.

It became silent, and it was as if the entire ladies’ collective breath was being focused on the situation. Some of the measures to be implemented include; whereby we will be laying off employees by fifteen percent in different sections. It was a carefully thought out choice and we know what the consequences are going to be in terms of our staff.

I clenched when the whispers spread through the crowd. Fear. Shock. Betrayal. It was a wave of electricity that surged through the room from head to toe. I had to hold David’s arm, I was feeling dizzy and use could feel the sweat on my forehead. 

“But we will strive to ensure that those who are affected only in the short-term by such changes are assisted and we will provide services to assist with such matters as career relocation amongst other issues.”

It was a sweet moment amidst a not-so-rosy time because there was heightened tension as I comprehended our positions in society. David pulled closer, “Don’t give in, Avery.” We’ll get through this.”

Throughout the meeting they managed to keep their mind off the actual situation, however, when the meeting ended the truth dawned upon them. As my other comrades left, I could see the range of emotions that each one of them possessed disbelief, anger, and grief. 

Elena found me in the chaos. “Still, they keep her Imprisoned Avery, what are we going to do? Tell me this is not possible”. Her voice was full of uncertainty in the line.

“First of all, we stand together as we go through this. Things are pretty rough at the moment so we just have to lift ourselves and stand strong as one unit. I was as close to my team as those words made me feel, yet the proper settled in me as I replied, “We can create a plan to show the management how valuable our team is”.

David joined us and the three of us started planning our actions rationally. “We have to ensure that people recognize our accomplishments, and demonstrate that we are loyal to the company’s mission statement,” David said.

While we were in the process of generating ideas, I experienced that rather powerful sense of duty. The decision-making process was no longer about job security for myself but career security for both myself and my co-workers.

Over the next few days, we stayed extremely active, engaging coworkers, and gathering as many victories as possible, numbers, KPIs, and accomplishments demonstrating the importance of our team. Every night that was dedicated to building our presentation was like pouring fuel on a fire in me. This was then struggling to live it was struggling to find purpose in one’s existence.

When the day came to present our case to the upper-level management I felt the world was on my shoulders. But I stood tall, by the side of David, Elena and other staff members who had come forward for the same reason as us. Combined we exemplified strength and togetherness.

This time taking a deep breath and moving forward to address the board, I noticed David’s encouraging look at me. This was the time for the demonstration of our determination, our passion and most importantly our vision for the company.

As someone who is facing this practice daily, let me tell you that this isn’t only a matter of quantity or results. This is about the soul of our team, our passion to grow and improve and our determination to protect that which makes us a team, and that is our unity. Most of us still have faith in the potential of the department as well as the strength to make the department grow within that situation.

As I was speaking I began to sense that the atmosphere in the room shifted around me. It was no longer just about who one should be afraid of it had become about what one can become. 

At that point, I got that regardless of what the result was to be, for me and my team, for David and me, there was a way ahead. We seemed prepared to face the uncertain future for the other person, no matter what lay ahead. 

With that belief in the unity and strength of the community as humans, I awkwardly entered the future.