Just fainted

Currently working on a fairly straight-forward Transfer Pricing project in Australasia and have has had a series of conference calls with offices involved in the project.

I have been working with a pretty bright and enthusiastic Manager who appears to relish his new found freedom of having work delegated to him where he can use a bit of initiative.

So we're in my office, speaker phone ready to start the call in 5 minutes and I inform him that I would like him to lead the call today. He is bemused. He begins to protest that he is scared, has never led a call before, doesn't have enough knowledge etc etc.

I reassure that I have faith in him and that he is more knowledgeable than he gives himself credit for and that I will support him on the call if anything goes haywire.

All set to go,  make the call greet everybody and it's over to Bright Manager - who promptly faints.

Anyway, he came round eventually, I took the call and all was in order. Poor bloke is terribly shaken but after discussing it with him. he is secure in the knowledge that, in my eyes at least, he hasn't lost face.

What I find amazing is that no responsibility is given those below partner so no wonder said fellow passed out. What do these poor souls do when they make partner - suddenly they have responsibility but have no idea how to deal with it. Sadly, the result is all too predictable.