Best Management Advice I Got - From a Comedian

Mike McDonald, may he rest in peace, was a Canadian comedy legend . He was well respected and brought so much joy to so many over a 40 year career.

But – and he didn’t know this – he also provided me with probably the simplest and best career and management advice ever.

Mike had a skit where he talked about dating and how people specified their list of requirements in ads for partners. The person had to be like that, this tall, do this, what they must like and dislike. But, Mike said, you only need one thing. You don’t need to specify so many things when only one thing matters – “don’t be an asshole (AH). The rest takes care of itself”

Like most people who have been working for a while, I’ve gone through my share of management books, all sorts of theories and smarmy memes on how to make your workplace better and more effective. Nothing came close to the simplicity of this. In every work situation, whenever you have had problems, things get resolved if you work for, and with good people. But if the people you work for and with, are AH’s, even the smallest problems become unsurmountable. Mike McDonald got it right – the rest takes care of itself. Many studies have shown that most people quit not because of money but because of bad bosses and toxic work environments.

To summarise :

1.??????Don’t be an AH.

This should be obvious. Don’t be the cause of misery in your workplace .

?2.??????If you can help it, don’t work for one.

It never works out and making more money doesn’t make you feel better. Or at least you need to make a serious boatload of it to help you get out of bed and into the office. Its just not worth the stress.

3.??????Don’t hire them . Don’t keep them.

Management that hires and tolerates toxic employees will create a toxic work atmosphere drive the rest to quit . This is the case in many companies where high performers who are AH's are tolerated. ?Hire competent staff who can get along with others. Management and co-worker feedback should always include questions on whether the person is good to work with, in addition to being an effective manager/employee. If you are stuck in a toxic workplace, there are coping strategies but you’ll pay a price . If you can, get out.

?If you want to create, and be at, the “best place to work”, the rule doesn’t get any simpler than this (yes there is stuff like benefits, salaries etc). Needless to say, this also works at home and in politics.

“Don’t be an AH. The rest takes care of itself.”?

Disclaimer : This is a personal blog. All views are my own and do not represent the views of people, organisations and institutions that I may be associated with in a personal or professional capacity.