In the trend of my earlier post on historical figures, I’d like to open up a bit of a series of posts on Napoleon.

While I will investigate historical figures, these discussion pieces are meant to look at their words, rather than their actions. I don’t endorse their methods, I just display an interest in them.

“A man does not have himself killed for a half-pence a day or for a petty distinction.
You must speak to the soul in order to electrify him”
– Napoleon Bonaparte

In this quote, Napoleon displays an understanding of human nature that is still being lost on many business people. Employees, be they soldiers, clerks, office workers, retail staff, or whomever, do not work just for money. Since most of us spend a third of our working day at our jobs, we also want to find something more. It might be friendship with coworkers, a sense of team, accomplishment, or anything else. We work for money, but we work WELL for that additional thing that “speaks to the soul”.

Wal-Mart has its song that employees sing. Many places have distinctive outfits for employees. It might be the company softball team, or the challenge of a project, but you should work to supply the chances that people need to become truly involved in their jobs. It’s only then that they will do their best work.

Originally posted on May 28, 2006 @ 9:53 am

Business

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