Successful Management Guidelines (Collection)

Truth 20. Authentic is better than clever

In 1950, movie actor James Stewart played Elwood P. Dowd, the pixilated best friend of a 6ft... well, 6 ft. 3 (and a half) imaginary (as if you needed to be told that part) white rabbit named Harvey. Dowd’s charm is not the companionship of the bunny, though; it’s the exceedingly, consistently guileless, open-faced, courteous way he treats people. In the movie’s key moment, he says, “My mother told me, ‘Elwood, you must be oh so smart. Or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.”

Every day you are faced with a similar choice in the way you lead your people. How you make that choice reflects your personal values and what you believe is the essential foundation of a healthy, functioning ...