Page 114 - The Apple Experience

Double-Goal coach in your business relationships: Help your employees and
colleagues master “the mechanics”—the nuts and bolts of their job—while

encouraging them to reach their potential as champions in and out of the

office. That’s the Apple way.

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson might have put it best when he

said, “My approach to being a good boss is not different from being a good

father. If you lavish praise on people, people will flourish. If you criticize

people, they will shrivel up.” Building an empowered workforce means giving
people permission to do what they believe is right for the customer. But it

also means building their confidence and bringing out the best in them. You

can build people up by sowing the seeds of encouragement. Recognize their

greatness publicly and praise their accomplishments.

On September 5, 2005, Steve Jobs gave a stirring

commencement speech to the graduating class of Stanford

University. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone
else’s life,” he said. “Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living
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with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of

others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most

importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” Steve

Jobs never placed limits on himself, and he certainly didn’t tolerate

anything but excellence in the people who worked for him. You

might not be surrounded by A-players at all times, but everyone (B-

and C-players as well) is capable of rising higher if they believe in
you, the vision, and themselves. Be the voice that guides others.

Believe in people, encourage their potential, and inspire them to live

their best lives.