"It has been close to 3 months since Kufere, our former manager, left, and the position has been left vacant since then; without a manager, it feels like this company is in autopilot mode." I complained to Gideon on our way to the cafeteria to have lunch.
"Why does the position being vacant bother you so much? In the last two weeks you have talked about it like thrice, or do you have your eyes on it?" Gideon asked.
"Hahaha, nah, I don't keep my eyes in the position at all," I responded.
"Then what is your problem with the position being vacant?" Gideon asked.
"It is just that without a manager a lot of things are not being done right; some of our colleagues are lagging, but there is no one to tell them to sit up. You know how Kufere used to be when someone was lagging," I responded.
"Well, that one is true; currently everyone is just doing as they please, though things are going well, but we still do need a manager." Gideon said as he collected his food.
Working in a sachet and bottled water company with no manager after having an experience of what having a competent manager feels like was really a cause to worry; we used to have things running smoothly and everyone doing what is expected of them even before they are told to do so because everyone knows what it is like when the manager sees you lagging and decides to break up the matter, but since the manager left, many workers decided to backslide since there was no one to query them, no one to shout at them, and no one moving around making sure everyone was doing the right thing.
The absence of a manager caused some of our colleagues to start malingering and making excuses; they come to work late, and even after coming late, they will still try to avoid work at every given opportunity. Some of them even go for a break before the official break time that was observed before our manager left. While the manager was around, everyone went for break by 12; with the manager absent, some workers even go for break by 10am, claiming they are hungry and did not eat the night before, but all of that was not seen before the manager left, which made the need for a new one very important, but the owners of the company have not even made the position being vacant public.
During that period, everything was in disarray; some decided to do what they wanted, how they wanted, and when they wanted since there was no one looking. They felt that they could now do things their way, and their way would have affected the company really badly, which made the need for a manager very important.
"The owner of the company is bringing his brother from the village to help him manage the company; that is why the position being vacant was not publicized." Stephen, a coworker who was overhearing our conversation, jumped in.
"Ohhhh, no wonder. I was wondering why it is taking them so long to make a move to replace Kufere," Gideon said.
"Does his brother have any managerial experience?" I asked to be sure of what to expect.
"There is only one way to find out; let him report to work first, and we will see what he can do," Gideon said.
"Let's just hope he is as good as Kufere or even better than him because anybody not competent enough, like him, will not be able to handle the position perfectly." Stephen responded. "Like Gideon said, we can only find out once he is here; let's just hope he is capable enough," Stephen added.
A few days after our conversation the new manager arrived, and the vacant position was filled. Working with him at first was a bit difficult, but with time we adapted to his style of managing, and slowly things got back to the way that they used to be, where everyone does what is expected of them even without being told in order to avoid getting queried.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Mr. David, but you can call me Dave. I am your new manager, and I look forward to working with all of you because I have heard a lot about you guys, and for me to believe it, you guys have to prove yourselves.
"We will do well, sir, and be on our best behavior." We all echoed
