Otto von Bismarck is attributed with saying, “Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others experience.”  Therefore, I hereby give you the opportunity to profit from my foolishness.

So, here are the criteria you ought to use when hiring... (do as I say, not as I do)

1. Are They Willing to Admit to Mistakes?  Nothing is more irritating and disruptive to an organization than people who cannot & will not admit to their own shortcomings. We all make them and if we cannot...

1. Use only a few well-defined categories. For most people, strategic plans top their list of “most boring documents to read.” If you hand your employees 20 pages of text, they are unlikely to read it. If they do, they are not likely to retain it. Instead, clearly define a small number of categories to provide a framework that is easily remembered and relevant to your employees’ daily activities.

2. Make a clear differentiation between you and your competition. Your strategic plan should set...

1. Expectation Management:

These managers begin by setting realistic expectations and communicating them in plain terms. This could include simple items such as weekly working arrangements or complex items such as a project approach. They explain why things are being done in a certain way and be open about organizational limitations.

I found that these managers set and communicated expectations iteratively as needed and did not limit it to annual performance appraisals.

2. Providing Tools: