I Work for You You Work for Me

It’s one or the other. And, if you work for a sales organization, chances are you’ve heard this before. “Either I work for you or you work for me.”

I have heard this more times than I can count. If you’re not in sales, I’m curious whether or not you have.

Notice, it’s the Greek rhetorical figure anadiplosis that makes it catchy. That’s where the last word of the first thought is the same as the first word for the next thought.

“Either I work for you or you work for me.”

This mantra leverages the concept of freedom. Dan Pink in Drive, calls it autonomy.

It’s dreamy to think about your boss working for you. Gopher this, gopher that. “What can I get you?” “How can I help you do your job?” Right?

The other end of the stick is definitely motivating, as well. Not a new concept. Nope. Not a good concept in and of itself, either. But, none the less, effective.

Personally, I always loved to hear this from sales managers. I have even used this as a qualification during job interviews. They either respond with a twitch or a twinkle.

Go with the twinkle…

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And I particularly like the whole thing of being boss. Boss and employee… It’s the slave quality that I find very alluring. -Hugh Grant < impetus for qualifiying during the interview!

Manage by objectives. Tell people exactly what you want them to do and then get out of their way. -Brian Tracy

Manage by exception. Only require reporting when there is a deviation from the plan. -Brian Tracy

Reinforce what you want to see repeated. What gets rewarded gets done. -Brian Tracy

Too “motivational” for you? Let’s listen to Jack Welch, then.

Change before you have to. -Jack Welch #autophasia

Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be. -Jack Welch

I was afraid of the internet… because I couldn’t type. -Jack Welch < That's funny. Look at me making fun of Jack Welch!

If you pick the right people and give them the opportunity to spread their wings and put compensation as a carrier behind it you almost don't have to manage them. -Jack Welch Dan Pink in Drive, for more clarification and specifics

The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important – and then get out of their way while they do it. -Jack Welch

Photo Credit: By @davestone on Flickr