kinudo

I came across this: http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2006/05/04/open-letter-to-ceos-coos-cios-and-cfos-across-the-corporate-world/

Pam Slim talks about escaping oppressive corporate culture and a few ideas for how to get rid of it – even in big companies.

Worth a read. And can be summarised thus:

“Don’t be an asshole. And if someone else is being an asshole, fire them”

Here’s a snippet:

Focus on the work people do, not how or when they do it.  Some positions require people to be at their desk at an appointed hour to answer customer calls or to participate in live meetings.  But others can do their work from home, early in the morning, late in the evening or dialing in from the local Starbucks.  The turnover magnet you have for losing great employees is not the competitor down the street, it is the idea of freedom and flexibility for the self-employed.  Your employees have different biorhythms and working styles and activities going on in their lives.  If you provide flexible work options and don’t make people sit unnecessarily at their desk, you will keep some great employees who would otherwise leave.  A manager who is afraid to offer telecommuting to her employees because she thinks they will slack off is just showing her own weakness. Great managers build accountability into flexible work plans and manage performance aggressively.