The Washington times., 1919-07-31
Human Ostrich
He Buries His Head in the Sands of Private Office

1 He BurieS His Head IN the Sands OF frlVate Oncs'
The ostrich is the most silly bird.
The honey bear is about as silly.
When an ostrich is in trouble it burss its head in the
sand
The honey bear which has sensitive nose buries his
snout in the dirt and considers himself safe from attack
Next to the ostrich and honey bear comes the man
who buries himself in private Office, far from the petty
details Of his business.
he thinks that he can work better away from the
troubles Of operation.
The cartoonist shows on this page the man who has
perhaps risen to the position of superintendent BE has
geld sign painted the door and tries to forget the days
when he was in oVeraIs
- often you hear it said that the boss doesn't know
much about the business of those working under
him.
And often this is true merely because the boss shuts
himself up in his sanctum and lets the wheels 60 around
manager high executive cannot dictate letters to
kG Stenographsr while inspecting the machine shop He
cannot read his mail while interviewing his toremen and
other workers.
But he can mix with his workers part of the day, and
he can leave the door of his Office open to those who may
have something Of Importance to give him.
There are more ideas outside the Office than inside
The channel Of intercourse between empoye and employer
must be kept open the stream of ideas VIII not flow into
the Office
The wise employer keeps his desk where the janOr and
the messenger and the foremen and the minor tunconae
can reach him easily and quickly.
In order to properly conduct any business 1t Is nsces
say keep In touch with detail The who buries his
head in private Office cannot have close association with
bis work
he pushes buzzer and somebody comes to him with
report The report is short and conciSe-just the kind
Q busy wants.
BE does not get the viewpoint of the man who makes
report unless he takes time to talk with that
Too much business these days is done on paper.
paper report is written without the spontaneous
comment that arises from conversation
The wise employer does not try to anayze labor con-
sons by reading statistics he goes out and talks to the
men BE asks them to come and see him The door to his
sfhee is open
When worker comes into the Office he makes him feel
comfortable
Workers have more wholesome respect for the man
who knows about their business than the who merely
sends out orders.
Caesar great leader. He knew the value Of con-
sact with his he tells in his commentaries that he
vent out night and showed his soldiers how to dig little
holes in the ground for their shoulders and hips to in
His soldiers impressed with the fact that he knew
lis business.
There is always opposition in shop or Office to an
outsider who is made boss-put In lover somebody head
The force knows that he is likely to ask them TO do
impossible things because he isn't in touch with the work
snd does not know its limitations
The outsider in the Office is only another degree Of the
character shown In Coman's cartoon who has mahogany
furniture and Private on the door.
There are none so blind as those who will not see No
person is gifted with second sight be able to see
Ihrough frosted glass door
Dignity does not come from painting signs sitting in
mahogany chair.
Work is dignifed if constructive The best construc
i've effort comes from thorough knowledge.
The wise boss, who wants to know all about his bust
psss will take of the door the private Office or move his
dek into the middle of things and keep acquainted with
lis job