That “you can’t unsour the milk” is one such lesson. “You can’t go back in time. You can’t prevent what has already happened… And you can’t quit,” explains the author. “You must counterpunch. Do not waste time bemoaning your troubles.”

An example of sour milk is bad attitude, as with some employees, he says. “It is hard, if not impossible to fix,” frets Fox. “Part ways, and go forward.” Another ‘family’ lesson is to gain confidence by acting like you own the place. “When you walk into the office, into a meeting, onto the stage, act like you own the place. Act as if you are in your complete comfort zone.” That way you are more likely to be ‘at ease, calm, courteous’ rather than be arrogant, says Fox.

Avoid the phrase ‘unintended consequences,’ he counsels, because the buzzword can be used for dodging responsibility. It is “a deflection, a diversion, a glib ploy masquerading as some kind of management reality,” cautions Fox.

Working on fixing weaknesses is a time-killer, like trying to ‘teach the quarterback to catch’. Instead, work on strengths, because that is where the money is, Fox exhorts. “If you are good at something, if your associates are good at something, work to make that something even better.”

For instance, helping the brilliant but brusque engineer better ‘relate’ to her associates is a typical management diversion, he says. “Forget about it. If she can’t relate, but she can invent and design, hide her someplace where she can pound out inventions and designs.”

Your place of business is for business, he reminds, because non-business leads to no business! “If you do business in a public place, don’t use your place of business to publicise your politics, your political party, your burning causes.” Wholesome read.

D. Murali

http://BookPeek.blogspot.com

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