5.
TELL THEM EVERYTHING ABOUT THEIR COMPANY

If you expect the people you work with to come up with ideas that work, they must (a) know the problems that the ideas are designed to solve, or the opportunities that the ideas are designed to take advantage of; and (b) have the information they need to solve those problems, to take advantage of those opportunities.

So keep nothing secret, nothing for top management’s eyes only.

Open up the books to them. Keep them posted on negotiations and possible mergers. Tell them of your clients’ or customers’ complaints.

Brief them every Tuesday morning on the state of the company. Answer their questions fully and honestly.

Tell them everything. After all, they are the company. They have a right to know.