As a person who has worked an office job and as a teacher, I can tell you that this book has great information for both office managers and teachers. I really wish that my office job employer would have used Mary Kay's advice; I sincerely believe that it would have made me a better employee who cared about my job and motivated me to do my best. As a teacher, many of the suggestions can be applied to creating positive interactions with students. It's such a shame that this book is out of print because it is wonderful! Here's a summary of Mary Kay's advice, taken from the back cover:"This is the management philosophy that turned Mary Kay Ash's storefront cosmetics business into a multimillion dollar corporation in just twenty years. Based on the age-old Golden Rule, it encourages managers to treat staff, customers, suppliers -everyone- with the same care, consideration, and concern they would like to receive themselves. It brought spectacular success to Mary Kay. Here's how it can work for you.
Recognize the Value of People. People are you company's number one asset. When you treat them as you would like to be treated yourself, everyone benefits.
Praise Your People to Success. Recognition is the most powerful of all motivators. Even criticism can build confidence when it's `sandwiched' between layers of praise.
Tear Down That Ivory Tower. Keep all doors open. Be accessible to everyone. Remember that every good manager is also a good listener...
Create a Stress-Free Workplace. By elimination stress factors -fear of the boss, unreasonable deadlines, and others- you can increase and inspire productivity.
Develop and Promote People from Within. Upward mobility for employees in your company builds loyalty. People give you their best when they know they'll be rewarded.
Keep Business in Its Proper Place. At Mary Kay Cosmetics the order of priorities is faith, family, and career. The real key to success is creating an environment where people are encouraged to balance the many aspects of their lives."
