Chapter 28: Standing His Ground
In a tense boardroom confrontation, Dion challenges corporate's attempts to modify his successful training program, defending his vision of employee development and community building against demands for efficiency.
The tension in the corporate boardroom was tangible as Dion faced the executive team. His presentation slides, showing the stark contrast between his original program and their modified version, glowed on the screen behind him.
"The numbers don't lie," Victoria challenged, her voice sharp. "Your method takes twice as long to implement and costs significantly more per store."
Dion stood firm, his voice steady. "Yes, it does. But look at our retention rates, our customer satisfaction scores, our sales growth. We're not just training employees - we're building a community."
Gregory interrupted, "Communities don't pay the bills, Dion. We need something scalable, something efficient."
"Efficient?" Dion's voice took on an edge. "What's efficient about having to hire and train new employees every few months because they feel like replaceable parts? What's efficient about losing customers because they sense our staff doesn't care?"
The room fell silent. Dion pulled up his next slide, showing the long-term cost analysis.
"You're looking at short-term expenses but missing the bigger picture. Our turnover rate is down 70%. Customer loyalty is up 85%. These aren't just statistics - they're proof that investing in people pays off."
As the debate intensified, Evelyn caught Dion's eye from across the room, giving him a subtle nod of encouragement.
"Look," Dion continued, his passion evident, "I understand the need to control costs. But if we strip away what makes this program work - the personal attention, the emphasis on growth, the focus on building relationships - we're not saving money. We're wasting it."
The executives exchanged glances, some thoughtful, others skeptical. Victoria leaned forward, her expression hard to read.
"You're asking us to take a significant risk, Dion. To trust that your approach will work across hundreds of stores."
Dion met her gaze. "I'm asking you to trust the evidence. To believe in the power of treating employees like people rather than resources. Everything I'm showing you isn't theory - it's proven results from our store."
The meeting ended without a clear resolution, but Dion knew he'd made his point. As he packed up his materials, Evelyn approached.
"That took courage," she said quietly. "But you might have just started a war."
Dion nodded, determination in his eyes. "Some things are worth fighting for."