Theory of the Mind, Empathy, Reading Between the Lines...

Had an interesting one today!

My new company is starting up an e-commerce operation. It is hugely important to the company, as it is a development that is structurally driving the industry we work in.

In my very first week the CEO called me and asked me to apply as my experience in my last company was very relevant and applicable.

I was slightly unsure about this given it was very early days, but I got the impression that I was being given a hint and that it would be politically incorrect not to be seen to be interested and positively disposed towards it.

One of my immediate colleagues urged me to apply. He knew of another person in the office who was going for it, but he thought that he was an unsuitable candidate.

He - my colleague - also thought that the project was something that our small, new and yet-to-become established section, needed to control for our own purposes and stature. (He also mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago that there were things that the recruitment consultant who put is both forward had said that had led him to believe that the security of the new team was not entirely sacrosanct!).

Today my colleague asked to see me privately. He said that "he" had also applied for the role as he felt that it was absolutely imperative that our department got control of the project to protect our position going forward.

He went on to suggest that he was happy if either of us secured the role for these reasons and that, if we were not successful, we should advocate that we split the role to join together our skills and background.

This has got Asperger confusion all over it! I honestly don't know what his motive is!

Is he trying to get it for himself? Why did he tell me about it if not? Should I accept his offer of a joint application? Or... is he an astute politician who can effectively see important tnings panning out going forward?