In 1960, 11 years after he founded the company that became Circuit City, my father Sam Wurtzel was reading a book he couldn’t put down: The Human Side of Enterprise, by MIT professor Douglas McGregor. McGregor had been writing on the topic for years — including in this 1957 article (restrospective commentary from 1972) on performance appraisals in HBR — and Sam was captivated by his ideas. The next morning, he called McGregor’s office and asked for a meeting with him. Initially rebuffed, he flew to Boston and called again only to be told the professor was still unavailable. But Sam was creative and tenacious. Finally, he said, “I am staying at the XYZ hotel and will wait here as many days as necessary to see him.” In a few minutes, the secretary called back and arranged an appointment for the next day.
What Circuit City Learned About Valuing Employees
A lasting lesson on how to get the best out of your workforce.
October 23, 2012
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Attracting and Cultivating Talent. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Discover how to attract, hire, develop, and keep talented people who will grow and thrive throughout their employee journey.