“In these changing times […] the most effective managers manage themselves and the people they work with so that both the people and the organization profit from their presence.”

This quote sets the tone and basis for the rest of the book: In modern times, managers need to adapt to benefit both the employee and the profit of an organization. It’s a team effort, and everyone involved must contribute to produce a desirable result. A manager’s role is important, as their “presence” can influence the attitudes and habits of everyone under them.

“We used to be a top-down managed company, which worked in its time. But today that structure is too slow. It doesn’t inspire people and it stifles innovation. Customers demand quicker service and better products, so we need everyone to contribute their talent. The brainpower isn’t only in the executive office—it can be found throughout the organization.”

Riffing on the theme of adapting to modern times, this is the first instance in which the Manager directly states his old methods are no longer effective for success. He has abandoned his former approach to leadership—as being a “top-down” manager, which is a reference to the 1980s edition of the story—and has embraced the collaborative approach demanded in contemporary workplaces. Whereas in the past managers were viewed as authoritative, feared, punitive, and invulnerable, the age of internet and social media has democratized access to information, knowledge, and power, and our world has had to shift the way we view the capabilities of individuals—not as simply receivers but as contributors.