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Never summon people to your office; it frightens them…

“Never summon people to your office; it frightens them. Instead, go to see them in their offices, unannounced. A boss who never wanders about his agency becomes an invisible hermit. 3” quote by David Ogilvy
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““Never summon people to your office; it frightens them. Instead, go to see them in their offices, unannounced. A boss who never wanders about his agency becomes an invisible hermit. 3””

David Ogilvy

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leaders should visit employees in their workspaces to build trust and visibility, rather than demanding them to come to a distant office.

In simple terms: Go to people, don’t summon them.

Key Takeaway

Visit staff to foster connection.

Themes

leadership communication trust

Mood

empathetic professional

Type

advice leadership

When to use this quote

  • team meetings
  • performance reviews
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

organizational behavior presence psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does proximity affect employee morale?
  • When is remote communication sufficient?
A Different Perspective

May be impractical in large, dispersed organizations.

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