First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently

by Gallup Press

During Gallup’s 80,000 manager interviews, we asked this question: “You have a talented employee who consistently shows up late for work. What would you say to this employee?” The answers ranged from the authoritarian to the laissez-faire: “I would fire him; we don’t tolerate lateness here.” “I would give him a verbal warning, then a written warning, then fire him.” “I would lock the door to the office and tell him that, from now on, even if you are two seconds late, you won’t be allowed in.” “That’s fine. I don’t care what time they come in as long as they stay late and get their work done.” Each of these responses is defensible. Each has its merits. But these were not the answers of great managers. When told that an employee was consistently showing up late for work, the great managers gave this one reply, which sums up their attitude toward manager-employee relationships: “I would ask why.”