The Director's Cut: The Scrooge of IT past

Charles hated Christmas and everything that went with it. He did not believe in giving Christmas cards - a waste of money - and those he received he never opened, storing them in a pile in the corner, on top of his unopened copies of computer magazines.

And this day would be the worst - first, he would have to go outside his office to visit his 'people'. He had no wish to do this, but a memo from HR had suggested that in future managers should be more 'visible'. Then it was a boring Christmas party, in which people who spent the entire year sending hate emails to each other would suddenly pretend they were everyone's best friend. Finally, it would be time to go home. Home to his empty and cold house to spend the holiday on his own - he had no family and no friends.

It was midday when there was a knock on his office door. It was a woman he did not recognise - probably chasing up the pound he still owed from Children in Need. She entered and, without invitation, sat down.

"Can I help you?" he asked her.

"No, I am here to help you," the strange looking woman replied. He decided she must be from marketing. There was a long pause. The two sat in silence, looking at each other.

"Can we do this by email?" The IT director broke the silence.

"I am a ghost," the woman said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Very nice, have you seen a doctor?" Charles replied, realising this must be a practical joke.

"I am the ghost of Christmas past, present and yet to come," the woman persisted, "and I am here to take you on a journey."

"Aren't there supposed to be three of you?"

"Yes, but your budgets were slashed so badly this year, you couldn't afford more than one."

And before he could say anymore... it was twelve months earlier, and they were in the middle of the general office. Everyone was rushing around, panic everywhere.

"What are they doing?" asked the woman, now strangely floating six inches above the Help Desk.

"They are doing last minute preparations for year 2000," Charles replied, now looking fearful.

"And what happened as a result of their efforts?" the woman asked. "Did these people not prevent a huge company-wide disaster - and what thanks did they get?"

"They got their bonuses," the IT director replied in disgust.

"Money - is that all you think about? They are screaming out to be motivated, for inspiration, for leadership."

The lights flashed off and on - Charles was now on the floor of his own office, surrounded by people who were laughing. "You are invisible," the ghost whispered. "Open your eyes and your ears to what goes on around you, every day."

Charles lay very still, wondering what to expect next - he listened to his team talking.

"I can't wait until he's gone - what a misery."

"Look at those cards - he hasn't even noticed I've given him the same one every year."

"Just look at the size of this office - you could fit six of us in here."

"He hasn't come past the tide mark since last Christmas."

As if anticipating the question in response to this last remark, the ghost pointed down at the floor. A small piece of white tape, almost invisible, was stuck to the carpet.

"Your people put that down a year ago, it is a mark of how far you come out of your office during the day - your staff never see you, many of them don't even know who you are! Now, I have to go. It will be your choice whether I come back next year."

There was a loud clap of thunder, and he was not in the office anymore - he was in the company boardroom, surrounded by his peers. He was a year in the future - and the other directors were angry, shouting at him. He could not make out what they were saying, other than occasional words.

"Demotivated& Cost... No leadership& Outsourced."

He tried to defend himself. He began to make excuses, but no-one was listening. The shouting increased in volume, until he could take it no more.

"Enough," he screamed. "Enough."

And then they were silent, and he was back in his own office. He clutched onto his desk to make sure it was real& yes it was.

He rose slowly and opened his door. Glancing down at the small white tape with a smile, he walked out of his office, into the open area. No-one looked up, even though he was coming out further than he had ever done before.

Charles paused next to one of the desks, He picked up a phone. "Hello, is that premises? Could you spare one of your people, please. I have a private office that needs to be removed."