Knowing what has occurred in the past helps us anticipate what may occur next, given a set of circumstances. I expect that is at least one reason I fancy myself as a novice military historian. Consider one of my favorite military figures from World War 2 – General George S. Patton. What follows are a few quotes attributed to him that in my view have absolute relevance in a current business setting. Interpretations beneath each are my own – modernized for use in general business.
- “I don’t like paying for the same real estate twice.”
As a simple analogy in a business setting – put processes in place to hire the best, then onboard, train, and retain them. Not paying well, treating employees as tools rather than part of the solution, or not doing what you can to retain them leads to repeat hiring and training for the same role all over again, and again.
- “Do more than is required of you.”
If you want to be recognized, if you want to get promoted, take the above literally.
- “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
One of my favorite quotes… I learned over the years those with the most knowledge about what it takes to do a job well is the person in that job. This is why I am such a proponent of having employees involved in writing or revising their own job descriptions. If your company is like most and don’t have job descriptions, take a look at our “Job/Position Description – Employee Involvement Initiative.” It costs little, requires no overtime, and the effort results in job descriptions for every role. Throughout, you retain control, and your employees will be motivated and inspired.
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