Dropping Keys

Back when I was a manager, I tried (and hopefully succeeded more often than not) to communicate positively with my team, be encouraging, and generally be helpful. I took the “remove obstacles so they could get the job done” approach.

I also did a lot of reading and tried to model my behaviour on good management examples that I came across.

Boy do I wish I had come across Edward “Tiger Mike” Davis at the time. He was the CEO of Tiger Oil Company back in the 70’s, and his memos to staff are absolutely epic.

Letters Of Note has the whole set so I recommend you checking them out, but here are a few highlights:

Idle conversation and gossip in this office among employees will result in immediate termination.
Don’t talk about other people and other things in this office.
DO YOUR JOBS AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!

I swear, but since I am the owner of this company, that is my privilege, and this privilege is not to be interpreted as the same for any employee. That differentiates me from you, and I want to keep it that way. There will be absolutely no swearing, by any employee, male or female, in this office, ever.

We do not pay starvation wages, and there are some people left in this world who want to work. I am not fond of hippies, long-hairs, dope fiends or alcoholics. I suggest each and every person in a supervisory category (from driller up to me) eliminate these people.

Do not speak to me when you see me. If I want to to speak to you, I will do so. I want to save my throat. I don’t want to ruin it by saying hello to all of you sons-of-bitches.

Any employee who does not want to adhere to the items mentioned above can quit. If any of you think I will go out of business because I can’t hire help, get out, and I will hire the people to do the work. I don’t need a job - you people are the ones who need to get with it.
There is one thing that differentiates me from my employees. I am a known son-of-a-bitch, and I care to remain that way.

I think you get the idea. Definitely go read the whole collection of memos. I think we can all learn a lot from this great man.