June 18, 2011: Smooth Muscle (Dedicated to my father, pharmacologist, on Father's Day)

The trick to being a good leader
Is being a damn good reader
Of situations and your players
And bending the nay-sayers.

Of encouraging the meek
And getting the mute to speak
Perhaps a little louder
Than your perpetual doubter.

Listening to those who must talk,
Sensing when the timid might balk,
Being ready with the praise,
Getting in some people's ways.

Shaking the table with hand slam,
Getting attention with a well-placed damn,
Giving dignity to the entire staff
And breaking the tension with a well-placed laugh.

Such an approach trembles under force
And leads everyone off course.
Forget about the power and the hustle,
Fall back on the beauty of smooth muscle.