"And what do you say, to those who remain?"

"Be kind," Lydia replied. "For those who remain, be kind. Be kind to those who have to leave. Be kind to those around you.

"Be grateful," she continued. "Give thanks."
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Tomorrow, the US celebrates the holiday of Thanksgiving. The holiday commemorates a meal of the harvest. Its origin may have been a meal in 1565 in St. Augustine Florida, or another in 1621, Plymouth Plantation. It is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate and give thanks for the world we live in.

Management Skills Blog will return next Monday, December 1, 2008.

From the Ask Tom mailbag:

Hassan writes:

Good day Mr. Tom. I really appreciate the service you are providing. I've got a business studies assignment to create 20 reasons why people work. Could you please help me out with some reasons?

In response to Hassan's request, think about why it is important for people to work. Hint: It's not for the money. Please post your comments and we will debrief tomorrow.

To view comments as they are posted, please visit the site www.managementblog.org.

"Perhaps we should define the word, work. That might help us better understand why people need to work. What is work?" I asked.

"This is going to be a trick question," Vicki replied.

I nodded. I had known Vicki for a couple of years. She was used to my trick questions. "It's only a trick question because you really have to think about the answer," I agreed.

"If you caught me at my office," I continued, "leaning back in my chair, arms folded behind my head, feet up on the desk, how would you describe my activity at that moment?"

Vicki grinned, "I could say that you were goofing off, but I know better. You would be thinking."

"And what would I be thinking about?"

"I don't know, your next project, how to solve a problem, perhaps thinking about a decision that needed to be made?" she floated.

"Yes, so would you call that work?" I stopped as Vicki nodded in agreement. "And if one of your technicians goes outside to the picnic area for a break, and he isn't goofing off, what would he be doing?"

I could see Vicki looking for the trick in the question. "Okay, if he is not goofing off, then he is probably thinking."

"And what is he thinking about?" I asked.

"Well, he is probably thinking about his next project, how to solve a problem."

"Yes, and so, would you call that work?" -TF

"They work because they have to," Vicki repeated.

"Let me change a word," I replied. "They work because they need to."

"Well, yeah, same thing."

"Only if we can talk about the need. What is the need that requires people to work?"

"They have to work, I mean, they need to work because they need the money to survive, to pay their mortgage, make their car payment."

I shook my head from side to side. "It's a noble attempt, but there is a deeper need. If you only see the benefit of work as a paycheck, as a Manager, you will be led down the wrong path. For a Manager, that path is miserable and unproductive. As a Manager, that path will cause you to create systems that breed unproductive behavior. So let's try again. What is the need that requires people to work?" -TF

"Why does your boss work?" I asked Vicki. "He doesn't need the money, not anymore."

"Well, yeah," Vicki stammered. "He works because that's who he is. I mean, he has power." She stopped and chuckled. "He gets to tell people what to do."

"So, it's different for your boss, than it is for you?"

"Well, of course it is. If I made as much money as he does, I would come to work because, because." Her voice trailed off.

"So, the only way you could be happy in your job, is if you made as much money as your boss? The only way your team members could be happy in their jobs is if they made as much money as your boss?"

Vicki was unsure of her response. "I could never make as much money as my boss," she finally replied. "What I do isn't worth that much money. What I do has value, but, but. But I am paid, about right, for what I do, for the value I bring to the company."

"You are paid, about right? Then why do you work? Part of it is money, it is a symbolic trade for your contribution. And, what is the other part, why do you work?"