Page 126 - Becoming a Successful Manager

If you treat your friends as if they are enemies, someday
you won’t be able to tell the difference.

10

Eliminating

Weeds from Your

Departmental Garden

THE SINGLE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE OF gardeners is to make sure
weeds don’t invade or take over their garden. Unfortunately, weeds
grow faster than desired plants and they rob gardens of vital nutri-
ents. They detract from a garden’s beauty and they require time,
money, and energy to eradicate. These are the same time, money, and
energy that are needed to promote the growth of your healthy garden.
Furthermore, if weeds are allowed to proliferate, they can destroy a
previously thriving garden. So, you need to catch them early.
In applying this analogy to your departmental culture, keep
in mind this defi nition: “A weed is a valueless, troublesome, or

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