Keep Your Eye On The Ball

One of the little tips that came through our research over and over again was the importance of dealing with people.  And just in case you don’t believe it, this came to our attention today:

IN early 2009, statisticians inside the Googleplex here embarked on a plan code-named Project Oxygen.

Their mission was to devise something far more important to the future of Google Inc. than its next search algorithm or app.

They wanted to build better bosses. . .

But Mr. Bock’s group found that technical expertise — the ability, say, to write computer code in your sleep — ranked dead last among Google’s big eight. What employees valued most were even-keeled bosses who made time for one-on-one meetings, who helped people puzzle through problems by asking questions, not dictating answers, and who took an interest in employees’ lives and careers.

People spend a lot of time developing expertise, they invest in training sessions to increase their expertise, and then they try to hire people to surround them who have necessary expertise.  And all that is just wonderful . . .

Just keep in mind that sometimes the best way to get the job done is to ask the right person in the right way to do it for you.

The Gurus of Get It