Bosses should 'be frank, but not too pessimistic'

Date: 10/03/2009

In developing the culture of truth and consistent communication with workers as a means of motivating employees, leaders should not be too pessimistic, according to an expert.

James Heskett, a Baker Foundation professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, said the current climate emphasises the role of a leader's posture in the workplace and how he should interact with employees to maintain morale.

He said that chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies should always face the "brutal facts" of mediocre performance, yet should consider the role of being more optimistic in the office.

Professor Heskett justified: "The ability of a naturally pessimistic (or perhaps more realistic) CEO to adversely affect everything from market reactions to employee morale and motivation may be substantial, thereby creating the wrong kind of self-fulfilling prophecy."

This was largely agreed with by Ravi Verma in a recent piece to Express Computer, who said that job satisfaction should also be promoted, which can boost performance and profits. ADNFCR-2060-ID-19066835-ADNFCR

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Bosses should 'be frank, but not too pessimistic'

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