Twenty-four hours and ten minutes ago, just minutes after your sales department confirmed a major production order for your Pittsburgh client, Warren knocks on your office door. Warren is your most experienced and smartest thinking supervisor—a 16-year veteran. His visit’s purpose: to give you six weeks’ notice that he is, finally, retiring. This time it’s for real; the cruise tickets are booked. What’s next? Clear space on your wall for four lists!

Mild panic has impaired your recall of your just finished, ten-minute conversation. One of your most valued employees—a key operations supervisor, a 16-year veteran—is leaving. You do remember asking him if he could delay his departure for two weeks to get you through a major production order that’s just come in. A bit reluctantly, he agrees. Okay. You have [...]