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This is Tip No. 1 in Larry Litwin’s “More ABCs of Strategic Communication: available on www.larrylitwin.com.
According to Robert Rosner:
We’ve all heard this one: If you give a man a fish, he has no reason to learn how to fish, but if you teach him how to fish, he won’t
have to go hungry.
The point? Leaders ought to be the best teachers. For example, if an employee comes to you and gives you a problem, should you:
A. Simply offer the answer, or
B. Ask questions to determine if the employee can arrive at the solution him or herself?
The answer is a resounding “B.”
Helping an employee to solve a problem on their own, when time and circumstances allow, is, by
far, the best choice.
Forget the Golden Rule. Instead, follow The Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they would have done unto themselves.” In other
words, if you really want to motivate people, ask them what will help them do a better job.
Robert Rosner, California Job Journal
Newstrack Executive Information Service
www.news-track.com • 800-334-5771
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