when I run my own business #1
Have you ever noticed that at many companies it is the middle-tier people who have the best handle on the business? They understand the guts of the operation and also have enough information and knowledge to have ideas about what the company's direction should be. Unfortunately, middle-tier people rarely get the opportunity to just chat one-on-one with people who have the power to make these ideas happen.
Sometimes, even if you have the chat it doesn't do any good, and management Knows Whats Best because after all, they spend all day in their office dealing with paperwork, reading reports, talking to shareholders.
When I run my own business I will talk every single day with middle tier people. No formal meetings where they're called into my office to sit across from my big imposing desk, or around an imposing boardroom table with other high-level managers. I'll stop by their desk instead, just to shoot the shit, and casually bring up things and let the ideas fly. Two heads are better than one and five better than... you get the idea.
I think the president's walk is incredibly important. Go for a walk, for goodness sake, through your own company, and do it quietly. Don't talk, listen to what the people say. Soak it all up and apply it to your business. I will do the walk every single day.
I don't want to forget knowing this.
2002.08.31 11:16 AM