Mr Grouch's revolving door

Robyn Pearce says that applying the lessons seen in Dale Carnegie's book 'How to win friends and influence people' can improve workplace morale. Image: Thinkstock.

The manager of a transport administration team had a hard reputation - short-tempered, snappy, intolerant, often grumpy with his people, didn't seem to know the meaning of the word 'thanks'.

In a word, he was a Mr Grouch. The revolving door of his department constantly snapped shut behind yet another disgruntled and departing staff member.

One day his team noticed that he'd taken to reading a book at coffee breaks and lunchtime. This was no ordinary book - it had a brown paper cover. And when he finished each break it was always carefully locked in his top drawer.

This behaviour went on for some weeks. The curiosity was at fever pitch, but no one dared ask Mr Grouch what he was reading. Then one day, during morning tea, there was an emergency. He dropped his book on the table and dashed out the door.

As soon as his back was turned, people ran for his desk. Sniggering, a bold one flicked it open. To their astonishment the title page proudly displayed 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie.

The book was quietly put back where they'd found it, everyone tiptoed back to work, and nothing was ever said. Over the next few months his bemused and previously sceptical staff watched the transformation from Mr Grouch to Mr Good Boss.

It didn't happen overnight, but bit by bit, as he applied the principles in the book, the whole environment changed. The revolving door stopped swinging, and their department became one of the most popular work choices at that organisation.

Mr Previously Grouch had transformed the climate of his department.

So what do I mean by climate? Am I talking about culture? No. They're different.

Culture operates at a macro level: climate at a micro level. Climate is departmental: it's driven by individual leaders and managers; by the way they support and treat all their employees, regardless of status.

It varies from department to department and is limited or enhanced by each department leader's ability, values, needs and expectations. Employees can do the job in many places, but they thrive with a leader who knows how to create a great climate.

No matter how bad the present climate, it can improve if the people at the top are committed to improvement and apply some core principles.

If you're the leader of a team, how do you rate yourself on the following list?

• Are you the kind of leader who creates and supports an effective workplace?
• Do you help your team build a helpful and cheerful environment? Happy people are more productive.
• Do all your staff feel valued, and are proud to be there?
• Do you understand what makes your people tick?
• Do you know what drives and motivates them?
• Do you know how to encourage your people?
• Are you a micro-manager or a good delegator?
• Are you able to give staff clear instructions, both written and verbal?
• How would someone else rank you as an honest and open communicator?
• Do you know how to listen actively, with both right and left brain?
• Do you understand the principles of effective feedback and appraisals, and always apply them?
• Have you learnt to deal with conflict constructively?

When a leader has all these skills, employees flourish. If you're not there yet, try Dale Carnegie's classic book and also grab a copy of my title 'Getting A Grip on Leadership' here.

Robyn Pearce (known as the Time Queen) is the MD of GettingAGrip.com, an international time management and productivity training company based in New Zealand. Get your free report 'How To Master Time In Only 90 Seconds' and ongoing time tips at www.gettingagrip.com