As companies from GE to Southwest Airlines have proven for years, people really are an organization's most important asset. Yet many employees don't feel their company treats them that way. To get managers to change their approach, consultant Hiam (The Vest Pocket CEO: Decision-Making Tools for Executives) begins by presenting an allegory that brings to life the adage "you can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." It turns out, Hiam contends, that while you can't make horses drink, you can let them, and it is providing that opportunity that makes it easier to get horses—and employees—to do what you want. Hiam proceeds to offer tips, inspirational sayings and homilies that urge managers to treat employees as if they have unlimited potential. He believes that if managers treat employees this way, employees will respond in kind. Thus, he coaches managers to "see that everyone is thanked," "have a leadership philosophy" and "take the lead by visiting employees to ask for their ideas." Hiam doesn't directly link this leadership method to greater sales or earnings, and the implicit assumption is that there are no bad employees, just bad managers. Still, his simple, specific advice will be useful to managers of all stripes. (June)
