Four Simple Words

by Kim Taylor

Have you ever received a piece of advice that was so sage, yet so simple, you knew you should’ve been following it all along?

I had one of those “I should’ve had a V-8” moments recently and I plan to move forward every day keeping it in mind.

In a conversation with a few friends—both managers, but in vastly different industries than mine—we began to discuss how difficult it is to manage in a recession. I remarked that one of the biggest challenges I’ve had is keeping a positive attitude. That’s when one of them said four simple words: You set the tone.

You can read all of the strategy books you want; listen to management gurus offer tactics for surviving in “these times,” but nothing is more palpable than your attitude.

If you manage one person or a hundred, remember, you set the tone. They are looking to you for comfort, wisdom and positivity. Why not give it to them?