What is the dullest, most vital skill you need to become a successful manager?

It’s the ability to write. I wholeheartedly agree with the author of this piece found on LinkedIn so I’m sharing it with Pros Write readers. Walter Chen uses three mega-successful business leaders to make his point.

1. Ben Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital company, Andreessen Horowitz;
2. Andrew Grove, former CEO of Intel;
3. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon

Here’s part of what Chen has to say about Bezos’ emphasis on writing skill:

Jeff Bezos values writing over talking to such an extreme that in Amazon senior executive meetings, “before any conversation or discussion begins, everyone sits for 30 minutes in total silence, carefully reading six-page printed memos.”

Certainly supports my Guideline #1 for coaching novice workplace writers.