***It's Good Business to Work with People You Like

If you're going to live in the river, better make friends with the crocodiles.nn- AnonymousnnI've been fortunate to work with people I like. Some of my employees have been with me for 20, 25, even 30 years. If we didn't like each other, that would be a long sentence of misery. As it is, we work well together, we respect each other, and we get a lot accomplished. Management becomes a whole lot easier if you are careful choosing your employees or partners. People who work well with me have to work fast. That's how I work, and they follow suit. Jason Greenblatt, general counsel, can explain something to me in ten words or less. Considering how much I have to do every day, I appreciate his brevity. Allen Weisselberg, my CFO, has the same ability, as does Norma Foerderer, a VP and my personal assistant for the past 25 years. So does Matthew Calamari, my COO, who has been here for 23 years. It's not that I don't enjoy talking with them as people, but our agendas have to be attended to, and by now we all know how to get it done, individually and as a team. If you can get a core group around you that you like and who understands your needs, you will be heading in the right direction. Sometimes I think it's divine intervention when the right people show up because, as we all know, people who give great interviews sometimes aren't so great on the job, and vice versa. In that sense, each new hire is a bit of a gamble. Solid gold credentials don't always mean solid gold people, but sometimes they do. You have to give people a chance to prove themselves. In the interim, though, it helps a lot if you like having them around. You will have to see beyond what is presented to you. Every person has unique talents that may or may not be in the job description or listed on a résumé. People are not one-dimensional. I don't like being underestimated, so it is safe for me to assume that other people don't like being underestimated either. I appreciate being seen as something more than my public persona, and people who work for me know that while I may be tough, I am fair. My door is always open, and they feel confident that when they have something to say, I'll be listening. Someone recently wrote in to ask me how to manage people that she didn't like. My response was to ask her if she liked anything about any of the people she was attempting to manage. We all have hidden potential, and a good manager will find it. A good manager will also look for what he or she likes about the people around them. No one is perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Your attitude towards others plays a big part in whether you surround yourself with the right people. If you don't like the people around you, you might start by taking a look at yourself first. Most of us spend a great deal of our time at our jobs. That fact alone makes it important to assess carefully what kind of people we want to spend time with on the job. What matters to you? What combination of personalities will make each day the most effective for everyone? An organization is ever-evolving, as we as individuals are, and a good balance is necessary for everyone. Does everyone clearly understand what the common goal of the organization is? Make an effort to create a working environment that is as pleasant and efficient as possible. Just set the example, and you'll be a magnet for the right people. That's the best way to work with people you like.