Human Resources 101

While looking for a book yesterday I came across a fourteen-year-old book of business survival tips by Richard Moran called, Beware of Those Who Ask for Feedback: And Other Organizational Constants. I had circled some of the tips and find that they’re just as valuable now as they were then. Here’s a baker’s dozen from the 370+ tips in the book:

• 07. People who ask for feedback are usually really asking for validation.
• 49. Never gossip, entertain gossip or do things that give rise to gossip.
• 57. Work always gravitates to the most competent.
• 59. Low-hanging fruit almost always turns out to have been already picked.
• 71. Never confuse making people happy with doing what needs to be done.
• 98. There is no relationship between morale and organizational success.
• 110. If you get a below-average performance rating, change departments, supervisors, or jobs.
• 143. If employees don’t like your system or process, it won’t get implemented.
• 181. There are no communication, turnover or morale ‘problems’. They are all symptoms of management problems. Fix the problem, not the symptom.
• 195. When an initiative begins with a series of posters, it’s already in trouble.
• 250. When giving a presentation, think of what people will remember. That’s no more than two things.
• 285. Never expect total honesty in front of the boss.
• 335. Make someone’s life easier. It always pays dividends.