Promotion To Manager Pillows

'Leadership training.'

"Maybe I'm too good a mentor."

'I realize working in the Complaints Department can be tough. But it must be a thrill to work with the public on a daily basis.'

"Norman, leadership is about more than telling everyone to be more like you."

'We're just like family. Stop mumbling, Cindy. Straighten up, Fred. Get that hair out of your eyes, Janet...'

"The new boss might seem severe, but he won't bite your head off!"

"You'll like working here once you learn to ignore the occasional job burn-outs."

Be a leader

"Motivating colleagues involves more than telling them to pull their socks up and be more like you."

"You've got your corner office, so what more do you want?"

'I hope you're not threatened by powerful women, because you're fired.'

'I'll be late for dinner, dear. I'm up to my neck in paperwork.'

'Let's not go by the book.'

I hope a starting salary of 80 and a severance of 12 is acceptable....

'You could be a constant inspiration for us to come up with a plan to get a leg up on our competition...you're hired!'

'Finally! A meeting with one of the bigwigs.'

"I was just going to say, 'Well, I don't make the rules.' But, of course, I do make the rules."

In basket-case.

So which rung are you on my corporate ladder?

"It's clear to me that you want to go far with this company."

Others will fight for you

A fight in the Boardroom.

'I'll make my final decision on that promotion of yours, after this game.'

"Why can't the rest of you be more like Rollins, here? He does his homework!"

Businessman on stilts: 'I had to step over a lot of people to get where I am today.'

Reach for the Star.

"Shall we start with an icebreaker?"

Business books - Who's Who & Who's Downsized sections.

Things-to-do-today: Daily workboxes piled up on desk.

"Helen brings home our second, third and fourth incomes."

"So, tell me a little bit more about this house training you mention on your CV."

'Don't think of it as being a yes man, think of it as being an employed man.'

'Well, now that I know he's the owner's son, yes, he's the best damned wine steward I've ever seen.'

"I don't care if you are the Immediate Gratification Generation. Get out of my chair and back to the mailroom."

The MBA Draft