so this is the new year
Happy New Year. I bet you're still trying to turn all your clocks back one second, aren't you?
* * *
Jeff has the right idea -- instead of focusing on resolutions for '06, he's thinking about what he learned in '05. Here are a few things I learned last year:
- People will follow the leader. If the boss arrives late for work, spends most of her time in the office with the door closed, lets staff members argue hostilely during meetings, promotes unskilled people just because she needs to fill an open position, and never gives anyone feedback -- positive or negative -- you can bet that most of the people who report to her act the same way. On the other hand, if the boss takes the time to train each of her direct reports, gives them feedback on their progress, and encourages them to openly discuss and debate ideas for making the organization better, chances are good that they will turn around and do the same. (This lesson applies to politicians, too.)
- Don't waste time worrying that the next step might lead to a fall. If you don't like where you are -- and your reasonable attempts at making things better aren't working -- then it's time to move on. If you still dislike where you end up, then you can always move on again.
- There will always be something around the house that needs fixing. Your attempts at crossing everything off your to-do list are futile.
