Listen to Employees
Be attentive when they need to discuss problems with you.
Nobody likes being the bearer of bad news, which is why economicdownturns may tempt your employees to keep their mouths shut aboutproblems they may have encountered. (They want to dodge your wrathas well as a possible pink slip.) Yet it's essential for themto speak their minds, especially when times get tough. A minorglitch nipped in the bud now may prevent needless time and moneywasted tomorrow. So keep the communication lines open and support ablame-free environment.
Excerpted from Entrepreneur magazine, July2001
