Avoid comparisons to ‘The Office’s’ icon of moronic management
by Kevin Purdy - The Eagle-Tribune
[ Commentary by Meryl K. Evans, Editor ]

The Office is a funny TV show. If Michael Scott, the manager of the office, was a good manager, the show wouldn’t win as many laughs, but he would win over more people. While Mr. Scott makes the audience laugh, he is the laughingstock of his office — something no manager wants to be in the real world.

It’s amazing how the simplest things can help a manager earn respect as this Eagle-Tribune article explains.

I worked for several corporations and the federal government in over a decade of my career. I still remember a handful of times when a manager said something nice unexpectedly. A simple “Good job” or “Thank you for your work on this” were memorable and urged me to keep working hard. Plus, the boss scored a few brownie points.

What things do you remember management saying or doing that made a difference? What works?