Stanford University, USA.
Harv Bus Rev. 2010 Sep;88(9):106-9, 127.
As employees strive to do their jobs, they face threats to productivity from all quarters-disruptive technology, meddlesome superiors, senseless organizational practices, and abusive clients and customers. Sutton, of Stanford University, reminds us that the best bosses identify and slay those dragons, thereby protecting the time and the dignity of their people and enabling them to focus on real work. Self-awareness is the key to defending employees effectively. Good leaders resist their own tendency to exercise power: They keep meetings short, listen to their followers, and make it safe to disagree with the boss. They also work to reduce outside distractions by, for example, championing mornings free of e-mail or streamlining performance-review processes. When their own bosses are the problem, they occasionally defy orders. Once in a while, they encourage their people to overtly comply with misguided demands from on high without actually buying in to them. Good bosses fight enemies. They take the heat for their teams. They have their employees' backs. Stepping on to this battlefield requires humility, intelligence, and bravery. In leading the charge to make the workplace safe and productive, however, you may risk martyrdom. Don't lose sight of the need to retain your own political power as you defend against the institutional forces that threaten your employees. And remember that preserving your own well-being will ensure that you have the energy to fight the good fight.
员工在努力工作的同时，也面临着来自各方的生产力威胁——破坏性技术、多管闲事的上级、愚蠢的组织惯例、以及恶劣的客户。斯坦福大学的萨顿提醒我们，最好的老板会识别并消除这些障碍，从而保护员工的时间和尊严，并使他们能够专注于真正的工作。自我意识是有效保护员工的关键。优秀的领导者会抵制自己行使权力的倾向：他们会缩短会议时间，倾听下属的意见，并创造一种安全的环境，让人们可以与老板持不同意见。他们还通过倡导免邮件的早晨或简化绩效评估流程等方式，努力减少外部干扰。当他们自己的老板成为问题时，他们偶尔会违抗命令。他们会偶尔鼓励员工公开地遵从上级的错误要求，而不是真正地认同这些要求。好老板会与敌人作斗争。他们为团队承担责任。他们支持员工。踏上这个战场需要谦逊、智慧和勇气。然而，在领导团队使工作场所安全和富有成效的过程中，你可能会冒着殉道的风险。在抵御威胁员工的机构力量时，不要忽视保留自己政治权力的必要性。请记住，保持自身的健康将确保你有精力进行这场正义之战。
