Chapter 17: Adjustments in Division of Labor and Escalating Team Conflicts
On Friday morning, the sky appeared as though it had been casually wiped with a slightly gray cloth, casting a dim and somber light across the city. The towering office building of Hongyu Group stood cold and imposing at the bustling street corner, its glass curtain walls reflecting a pale, distant gleam. The building seemed to herald the impending "storm" within, a silent harbinger of the workplace turmoil yet to unfold.
Inside the marketing department's meeting room, the atmosphere was as heavy and suffocating as the oppressive calm before a storm. As each person entered, they instinctively slowed their steps, feeling the weight of the tension hanging in the air. There was an unmistakable sense of unease—eyes meeting eyes with suspicion, uncertainty, and a palpable anticipation or resistance toward the upcoming project adjustments.
Team leader Chen Feng sat at the head of the table, his expression solemn, holding a new project division plan, the paper slightly crumpled, the creases symbolic of his own inner turmoil and reluctance. He cleared his throat, attempting to break the suffocating silence, his voice dry as he spoke, "Colleagues, the reason I've called this meeting is to discuss the reallocation of responsibilities for our new product promotion project. After the manager's directives and an evaluation of the previous work, Zhang Liang, owing to his exceptional market research, will be transferred to the core creative team to refine the product's selling points. As you all know, this is a critical aspect that will determine the success or failure of the project."
The moment he finished speaking, the room erupted into an uproar. The murmur of heated discussions filled the air. Li Qiang shot up from his seat as though his backside had been scorched, his face flushed red, resembling an enraged bull. His eyes, wide as saucers, locked onto Zhang Liang, as though attempting to pierce him with his glare. Waving his arms, he bellowed, "Why him? Leader, our project has been progressing just fine. And now, because of Zhang Liang's so-called research, he's being inserted into the core team, disrupting the entire rhythm? How long has he been with the company? Who here can compare to his experience? Our team has been working in sync up until now, and his sudden inclusion is nothing but chaos!"
As Li Qiang spoke, he slammed his hand on the table, causing the water cup to wobble, spilling droplets of water onto the table. The sound rang out amidst the cacophony, sharp and jarring.
Zhang Liang sat still, slightly leaning forward in his chair. His hands instinctively gripped the edges of his clothing, his knuckles whitening with the tension. His heart was filled with a mix of frustration and anger, much like an artist whose painstaking masterpiece had been devalued by a thoughtless critic. He bit his lip, forcing himself to control his emotions, meeting Li Qiang's gaze with unwavering resolve, though his voice trembled slightly. "Li Ge, I admit that my experience may not compare to everyone's. But over the past few days, I've visited numerous competitor stores and spoken with dozens of consumers, gathering real, tangible insights. Refining the product's selling points must be based on market demands and consumer pain points, not just relying on experience and familiarity. I don't complain about the past division of work, but now that I have the opportunity to contribute to the project, I am confident that I can do it well."
Li Qiang scoffed, dismissing him with a curl of his lip, still ready to counter. At that moment, Wang Hao, another colleague, chimed in, "Yes, exactly, Leader. Changing the team member at this stage disrupts our cooperation and rhythm. Who knows if his selling points will even work? We might end up messing up the whole project, and then we'll all suffer for it." Wang Hao furrowed his brow, his eyes filled with doubt and concern. His arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back in his chair, subtly distancing himself from Zhang Liang, as though building an invisible "wall" between them.
At this moment, Su Yao couldn't remain silent any longer. Her eyebrows were furrowed in frustration and urgency as she addressed Li Qiang and Wang Hao, "Stop going too far. Zhang Liang's research findings are clear for everyone to see. The issue he raised about the disconnect between the product's features and consumer emotional needs is right on target. This project is hitting a bottleneck. Isn't this the time we need new ideas and breakthroughs? If you keep clinging to old experiences and supposed 'chemistry' without trying to change, this project will truly fail!"
Su Yao's face flushed slightly with passion, her chest rising and falling as though she were a warrior standing up for justice, breaking the one-sided siege with her words.
The room divided, each side arguing vehemently, red-faced and shouting louder with growing intensity. Accusations and counterarguments flew like arrows in every direction, the tension rising to unbearable levels. Chen Feng, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, stood up in exasperation, slamming his hands on the table and shouting, "Enough! This is a company, not a marketplace!" But once anger is ignited, it is not so easily extinguished. The room fell briefly silent, only to erupt again moments later.
Zhang Liang sat at the center of the chaos, his head pounding with frustration. At that moment, the system's calm yet subtly humorous voice echoed in his mind:
"Zhang Liang, 'Blend with its light, and mix with its dust.' This situation is escalating, and the more you argue, the more you fuel the conflict. You need to tone down your approach, lower your guard, and win them over with sincerity and reason. Don't let emotions control you; use gentleness to overcome rigidity. Take it step by step."
Zhang Liang took a deep breath, calming the storm in his chest. He silently replied, "System, you're right. I can't afford to be rash. I need to keep my composure." He stood up, putting on a faint smile, clasping his hands together, and sincerely addressing the group, "Colleagues, I understand your concerns about the project, and I respect the importance of the chemistry we've built in our original team. My joining the core team isn't to disrupt anything, but to help all of us make the project better. I'm eager to learn from all of you, and I'll share my findings so we can refine the product's selling points together. If I fall short anywhere, please point it out—I'll improve. Let's work together, move the project forward, and not let our differences slow us down, alright?"
His gaze was sincere as he met each colleague's eyes, hoping to quench the fire of anger burning within them, like a stream attempting to douse the flames.
But Li Qiang wasn't ready to let it go, "Hmph, that's easy to say. But if things go wrong, can you take responsibility? Don't act like you're above us," he scoffed, though his tone lacked the same confidence it had earlier. Zhang Liang's conciliatory posture had made Li Qiang's continued resistance feel weaker.
The meeting ended in a tense stalemate. Chen Feng reluctantly announced that the project would continue as originally planned, with further discussions to follow. The team filed out, the air thick with unspoken tension. The project's progress felt as though it was blocked by an immovable stone, teetering on the brink of stagnation.
Summary: In this chapter, the reorganization of the project team causes resistance from Li Qiang, escalating team conflicts. With the help of the system's advice, Zhang Liang uses Laozi's wisdom, "Blend with its light, and mix with its dust," to lower his defenses and seek reconciliation. While he has yet to fully resolve the situation, the project is left in a precarious state. In the next chapter, Zhang Liang will face the challenge of resolving team conflicts, fighting for space to carry out his work, and dealing with potential crises. Stay tuned for Chapter 18 to see how he navigates these obstacles and continues his career journey.