What Should be (but isn't always) Obvious
When browsing through any bookstore, I must confess that my eyes often glaze over when passing through the business section. In a contest with all of the other offerings out there, the history of a business dynasty or an insider's account of a trading scandal can seem, well, dry. So, it was a bit of a surprise that I found myself ordering from Chapters a little book called "The Obvious: All You Need to Know in Business. Period." by James Dale. Dale is the former CEO of an advertising agency and now is a business consultant. His book came to my attention when it was profiled in the Globe & Mail's Report on Business a few weeks back. Unlike other comparable offerings, this book appealed to me as a service provider. From the standpoint of the legal profession, particularly those of us in private practice, the advice, while (as the title implies) somewhat obvious, is worth pondering. A survey of some of the titles of Dale's chapters give a glimpse of his thesis: "Work is a Verb" (sad but true)... "Listen More Than You Talk"(very tough for anyone who loves the sound of their own voice!)..."Every Job is Sales"..."Simple is Better Than Complicated"..."Less is More"..."Say What You Mean"..."Energy--The Unfair Edge"...and my favourite, "Imagine You Worked for You"--what better way to improve the workplace? Lawyers are inherently conflicted: while they are expected to have a superior command of the English language and advocate aggressively on behalf of their clients, many will acknowledge that the most respected in their profession are those who are plain-spoken and reasonable in demeanour. Not surprisingly, it appears from Dale's experience that these traits are commonly respected across the spectrum of business.
Have a great day,
David
