This weekend I purchased a fashion magazine. I am not a big fashionista, so this purchase was a bit unusual for me. I bought it because I know I need to go shopping before this fall season hits for real.  My wardrobe could definitely use some up-leveling. I know the mag will help me determine the key pieces to I can add to what I’ve already got, to give a touch of trendy to my look as I do business in this final quarter of 2016.

After looking over the limited selections for fashion mags appropriate for someone without a 2 as the first digit of their age, I decided to pick Harper’s Bazaar. It’s funny, because as I sat down on my front porch and started to flip the pages I realized what joy I could find in this little activity. The task of planning to do the task of upgrading my fall wardrobe was enjoyable in itself. And I hadn’t even hit the stores yet!

As I got into it a little more I turned to an interview with Bruno Cucinelli in a monthly column called, “My List.” It’s basically a day in the person’s life listed, “by the numbers.” It’s a really short little feature, but I found a nice chunk of wisdom in his words.

Mr. Cucinelli is a designer, and I guess if I read Harper’s Bazaar more often, I might know more about who he is. Whatever. As I read the article and began to flow through his day, I learned he’s also a entrepreneur. And it appears he’s also a pretty good boss. I say that because he speaks about the process of going to his employees when he had a question or needs to speak with them about something on a project. Yes, he goes to them!

In most companies very often the organization chart hierarchy prevails. It determines who travels to whose office when there is a need for a discussion. I very clearly remember the execs in my division at MCI back in the mid-90’s who made it a point to travel to their team member’s offices rather than have their admins summon us to their office. Now of course, we could go to speak with them if we had a need. But the fact that my VP had no problem traveling a couple of flights down on the elevator to speak with me said volumes about respect.

It seems Mr. Cucinelli feels the same way. He states, “If I need someone, I tend to go to them…It is somehow a way to reward the work of my employees. The fact that I go to them myself is a way of stressing the dignity of their work.” I have to imagine he’s a pretty cool guy to work for because he doesn’t seem overly impressed with himself. 

Creating an environment of respect both up and down the org chart is important to a happy workplace. When employees feel respected and their work is valued, that’s a key indicator that they will work hard and stay with the company longer.

 I would have to say that’s the exception and not the rule at most companies based on the over 50 percent of workers who say they are unhappy at the job. Do you agree that staff feeling respected by the company leadership is important to work happiness?