Setting: The vibrant office of ImpactPR, where ambition thrums like a heartbeat.
Oliver: (leaning against the polished counter, a swagger in his stance) You know, my friends, I’m the finest among you. No one can rival my prowess.
Clara: (rolling her eyes, pouring a steaming cup) Ah, Oliver. Your confidence is as grand as your delusions. Perhaps you should focus on not misplacing your reports.
Oliver: (dismissively) Such trifles! What matters is my ascent to greatness. I’m safeguarding our collective interests, after all.
Elena: (entering, her presence radiant) Good morning, everyone! What’s the topic of this lively discourse?
Oliver: (straightening, his charm on display) Just a discussion about the importance of teamwork. It’s vital we have the right people, wouldn’t you agree?
Elena: (smiling, her eyes bright) Indeed! Collaboration is the cornerstone of success.
Oliver: (to himself, a storm brewing in his heart) I cannot allow her brilliance to eclipse mine.
Scene Transition: In a conference room filled with palpable tension.
Mr. Thompson: (addressing the team with gravity) Let’s convene. Clara, your insights?
Clara: (confidently presenting) Our strategy hinges on engaging the youth through social media, leveraging key influencers to amplify our voice.
Oliver: (interrupting, a sly grin forming) But what of Elena’s recent performance? I heard whispers of missed deadlines.
Mr. Thompson: (raising an eyebrow) Is that accurate, Elena?
Elena: (calm yet firm) I faced challenges, but I communicated them. Quality remains my utmost priority.
Oliver: (smirking) Quality over quantity, sure. Just don’t let the ball drop.
Scene Transition: After the meeting, Clara, Jason, and Marissa gather, their resolve hardening.
Marissa: Did you witness Oliver’s antics? He’s trying to dismantle our unity.
Jason: It’s pathetic. He believes he can charm his way to the top while sowing discord.
Clara: We must expose him. His blunder of mistaking “detrimental” in our last discussion was a glaring error.
Marissa: We’ll gather evidence and confront him. It’s time the truth shines through.
Scene Transition: The following week, the atmosphere thick with tension as the team prepares.
Mr. Thompson: (seriously) Let’s begin. Oliver, your updates?
Oliver: (standing tall) Absolutely! Our outreach is flourishing, and I am at the helm.
Clara: (interrupting) But Oliver, what about your comments regarding education? You said it was “detrimental for a nation.”
Oliver: (stammering) I meant key for—
Elena: (stepping forward, her voice steady) No, Oliver. You misled us.
Oliver: (defensive) I was merely making a point!
Jason: A point built on falsehoods? That’s not leadership, Oliver.
Scene Transition: The room brims with tension as Oliver realizes his grip is slipping.
Mr. Thompson: Integrity is our foundation, Oliver. This is not merely about you; it’s about the collective.
Oliver: (voice rising, desperation creeping in) You’re all conspiring against me! I’m simply striving for our success!
Clara: Success comes from support, not sabotage.
Marissa: If you think undermining Elena will elevate you, you’re sorely mistaken.
Oliver: (frustrated) I didn’t undermine anyone!
Elena: (calm yet resolute) You did. And now it’s time for clarity.
Scene Transition: After the meeting, Oliver sits at his desk, the weight of solitude pressing down.
Oliver: (muttering to himself) How did I end up here? I was meant to be the shining star.
Colleague: (whispering to another, passing by) Did you see how Oliver unraveled? He’s lost his way.
Scene Transition: Oliver attempts to charm Elena at the water cooler.
Oliver: Elena, how about lunch? I believe we could connect on a deeper level.
Elena: (politely, but firmly) Thank you, Oliver, but I think I’ll pass.
Oliver: (bewildered) Why not? I’m a valuable ally.
Elena: Perhaps, but I prefer honesty and teamwork over manipulation.
Scene Transition: Oliver contemplates his choices, the shadows of regret looming.
Oliver: (to himself) I can’t fathom this. I believed I could navigate my way through.
Final Scene Transition: Mr. Thompson calls Oliver into his office.
Mr. Thompson: Oliver, we need to discuss your conduct.
Oliver: (defensive) I was merely trying to assist!
Mr. Thompson: Assisting through deceit? That’s not how we operate here. It’s time to part ways.
Oliver: (stunned, disbelief etched on his face) You cannot be serious!
Mr. Thompson: I am. This is beyond performance; it’s about our core values.
Scene Transition: As Oliver exits ImpactPR for the last time, the weight of his choices settles in.
Oliver: (muttering, voice filled with regret) What have I done? I thought I could charm my way to the top.
Epilogue:
Elena: (to Clara and Jason, relief evident) I can’t believe Oliver is gone.
Clara: It’s unfortunate. He had potential if only he had chosen collaboration over deceit.
Jason: Precisely. Now we can focus on fostering a stronger team.
Elena: And that means supporting one another, no matter the challenges.
In the end, Oliver learned a profound truth: ambition rooted in deception breeds isolation. As he walked away from ImpactPR, he recognized that true success flourishes through collaboration, not manipulation.
Let me bow out with the following poem
– True Success
In the garden of dreams where ambitions bloom,Where shadows of doubt seek to weave their gloom,True success takes root in the hearts that unite,In the warmth of the sun, where the spirits ignite.
With hands intertwined, we craft a shared goal,A tapestry woven from each vibrant soul.Ideas take flight on the wings of the team,Like whispers of hope in a collective dream.
No thorns of deceit can mar this bright path,For trust is the soil that nurtures our wrath.Each voice a note in a harmonious song,Together we stand, together we’re strong.
In the dance of the minds, collaboration thrives,Where each spark of wisdom illuminates lives.A symphony rising, with rhythms aligned,In the pulse of our union, true success we find.
So let not ambition sow seeds of division,For power in numbers is born of precision.When hearts beat as one, and visions align,We harvest our dreams, and the future is mine.
In the garden of dreams, let us cherish the ties,For together we flourish, as the spirit flies.True success, like a river, flows endlessly wide,In the bonds of collaboration, we take pride.
Trying to outwit in a group discussion
BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2025
