Big Oil CEO wishes he hadn't used 'burning platform' metaphor at town hall

CEO Jefe Patrón, admired as one the most persuasive leaders in the Fortune 500, has run into trouble again with direct reports taking his suggestions too literally.

Mr Patrón’s call to action has left four oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico in flames, which he ensures was definitely not his intent when he raised awareness for dropping yields. Remarkably, this is not the first time his choice of words leads his audience to adopt suggestions with literal effect.

• Two of his PA's were dehydrated within 3 hours when he referred to their jobs as running a marathon.
• A legal advisor broke both legs while trying his very best to walk the tightrope in a litigation case last year.
• A junior procurement officer tried paying a supplier with a box of secondhand wristwatches, because time is money.
• A female HR director was seriously injured while climbing the career ladder straight through the glass ceiling.

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