You can’t get people to do their best work simply by giving them intelligent instructions.  It takes more than that to develop enthusiastic cooperation and real teamwork.  Before you can get the best out of people, you have to make them feel like giving it.

A smart boss takes a sincere interest in everyone who works for him or her.  He asks their opinion about lots of things related to the job (and other things) and listens while they explain their opinions.  When she has to make a decision that relates to them, she knows the kind of person she’s dealing with.  That helps avoid needless troubles and irritation.

By knowing the person well, and knowing what he or she is proud of, a boss can also drop in a word or two of special praise or recognition whenever it will do the most good.  The boss who doesn’t know the people who work for the company well enough to do this is missing the boat.

JOHN L. BECKLY (1913-1998)
Founder, The Economics Press, Inc.

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