I recently received an article from a friend. In it were examples of people being promoted because they did a great job. Everyone has seen examples of the great salesperson, who becomes the mediocre sales manager and so on. Still, it is in the nature of people to seek promotion, a feeling of moving ahead.

Is it time business redefines promotion?

Observation of the political system can be a great aid to those who would wish to become better managers. Not in the sense of emulating the behavior or [lack of] results, rather in the way a wise man learns from a fool. That is by watching their behavior and extracting the lessons they seem incapable of learning. For instance an almost total lack of leadership. Following are a short list of observations to illustrate my point. A leader might by avoiding such behavior, become a far better leader, in my opinion.

At the time I did not realize, my mother was a wonderful leader. She never officially assumed the roll, nor attempted to usurp my father. Yet through her insight, example and support the family accomplished her aims, and were all far better for the experience.

Many years ago, I subscribed to the theory that there was a "cycle of business." A busy time and slower times. Whenever business would slow down, I "knew" it was the cycle, and not anything I had done. This was comforting, but somehow left me with a problem. 

Lucien certainly provided an inspiration to me, though he may have never known. I think in managing a business it may be helpful to consider who may be watching and what message one might wish to convey. 

When we do things for others, most people expect some sort of recognition. Payment, a thank you, maybe a future favor. This may simply be human nature, an unwritten rule of reciprocity. As long as the give/take remains balanced there is seldom a problem. Problems sometimes develop over time when either or both parties fail to understand fully. 

This may sound a bit archaic, the thought that work can be enjoyable. Clearly, in our society, work is that which we do to earn enough so that we no longer have to do it. Often we work so that we can retire and no longer have to work. The thought of work as enjoyment for most is quite strange.