Sunset on the Hudson River | Photo by Bruce Weinstein “Who put this thing together? Me, that’s who! Who do I trust? Me!” These words, the mark of a true narcissist, are shouted by the character Tony Montana in Scarface as the drug empire he has built starts to crumble. (Oliver Stone wrote the script.) [...]
Hiring accountable people makes the lives of managers and employees much easier, because accountable employees do four things consistently: They keep their promises. They consider the consequences of their actions. They take responsibility for their mistakes. They make amends for those mistakes. The following questions may help managers discern a job candidate’s level of accountability. The [...]
Honesty is the most important of the ten crucial qualities of high-character employees. My father once bought a life insurance policy from an agent who was a really likable guy. Warm, friendly, and a good listener, Eric was just the kind of person you wanted on your team. His impeccable credentials, strong references, and a [...]
A panoramic view of the coast of Gozo, Malta, that I took last week Which of the following statements is most accurate for you? A) I receive 15 days of paid vacation each year, and I take them—guilt-free. B) I receive 15 days of paid vacation each year, but I feel guilty if I take [...]
Photo by doglikehorse * Licensed through Shutterstock “Shut up, you’re such a baby!” That’s the comment “peter” posted about my Bloomberg Businessweek online column on the ethics of office gambling. There are two problems with ad hominem attacks like this: They’re uncivil, and they say nothing about the validity of the argument under discussion. […]