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Improving Performance
April 26, 2010
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
-Will Rogers, Actor and Commentator, 1879-1935

David Viscott is a psychiatrist who applied his professional skills and experience to running a business.  In Taking Care of Business (New York: Wm Morrow Company, 1985), he observes:

"...the key to increasing productivity is to tap into the individual's inner drives and identify with them.  The best way to do increase productivity is to see that people are doing jobs that they are most suited for and like best."

To help employees shape jobs that suit them best, Viscott suggests asking then questions such as...

  • What do you do best?
  • How often do you do that?
  • What would you rather be doing than your present job?
  • Is there anyone with whom you would like to exchange jobs?
  • What appeals to you about the other job?
  • Can any part of this be included in your present work?
  • What part of your job do you do least well?
  • How much of the time do you do this?
  • When are you most productive?
  • How often does this positive situation occur?
  • What does your productivity depend on?
  • When are you happiest in your work?
  • Are these times the same as your productive times?



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  • The Art of Leadership: Managing Early Childhood Organizations
  • Managing Money: A Center Director’s Guidebook
  • Beginnings Workshops Book #8 - Professionalism
  • 250 Management Success Stories from Child Care Directors
  • Developing Capable, Creative Teachers CD Book
  • Leading People in Early Childhood Settings CD Book

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Comments (3)

Displaying All 3 Comments
Naomi H. Black · April 26, 2010
United States


I agree that it is important to know yourself in order to do any job well; the article was right on. However, I was saddened by the quote at the top of the page. Growing up and becoming educated is not a race - or should not be. When we know how important play is in the life and learning of a child, when we know how important it is for a child to feel comfortable and capable, why do we take away recess for more class time? Why do we ask children to engage in activities for which they may not be developmentally ready, which just sets them up to fail? Why, when we know so much about how the brain functions, do we disregard much of it when planning a school day for our children? What is wrong with being a child?

Naomi H. Black · April 26, 2010
United States


I agree that it is important to know yourself in order to do any job well; the article was right on. However, I was saddened by the quote at the top of the page. Growing up and becoming educated is not a race - or should not be. When we know how important play is in the life and learning of a child, when we know how important it is for a child to feel comfortable and capable, why do we take away recess for more class time? Why do we ask children to engage in activities for which they may not be developmentally ready, which just sets them up to fail? Why, when we know so much about how the brain functions, do we disregard much of it when planning a school day for our children? What is wrong with being a child?

Zuhairah Ali · April 26, 2010
Taman Pendidikan Raihan
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia


The statement by Neil Kurshan at the beginning of your article, sets a disturbing tone to childhood. The word which stands out is 'race' and it connnotes a competitive world out there where only the best succeed. Hard as I try to imagine the race of life as a happy leisurely, journey, I can't. I see, from the word go , a driven, possibly anxious child, pushing hard to reach the finish line of life before the others do. Wouldn't it be better to change the word to 'journey' or 'discovery'?



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