IPMA 2001 Conference In-plants In A Changing World

After entering the room dressed as The Blues Brothers, with corresponding music and antics, Mason and Vallone used audience members to help them illustrate several familiar scenarios where managers resisted employee suggestions or made employees feel worthless by not introducing them to visitors.

Leadership is not easy. In fact, it's an art, maintained Rolfe Carawan, one of the conference's keynote speakers. Leaders must give others an incentive to listen to them, he said, especially since people care more about their own needs than yours. Carawan noted that because people have had different life experiences (Baby Boomers vs. Generation Xers), they see things differently. A good leader will look at things from the perspective of others.