Mary Poppins describes a style of management which has for too long been hidden in many businesses and organisations.

Think about it.

She's "Practically perfect in every way" - is that not what we want from a boss? Someone who is almost brilliant at everything - yet with a hint of not being absolutely perfect? Someone we can trust and depend on - yet who is truly human with is and falls down occasionally too?

And then there's the cut to the chase with, "Bert, what utter nonsense. Why do you always complicate things that are really quite simple." How often do we, often inadvertently (especially the more senior an executive we are), make things so, so complex. Recently working with a client who already had over 125 books on systems, when all they were doing was selling things to people...

And then there's all the fun, like...

"Of course, you can say it backwards, which is dociousaliexpilisticfragicalirupus, but that's going a bit too far, don't you think?"

...a satisfying ability to have fun and, I think perhaps just a hint of a smile at yourself, Mary, in that..., as Bert says "Indubitably.!" Not forgetting either, that if we look hard enough, with the right viewpoint...

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and - SNAP - the job's a game!"

Above all, we want to remember how easy it is to fall into the work, work, work ethic of Mr George Banks, with his

"A man has dreams of walking with giants
To carve his niche in the edifice of time.
Before the mortar of his seal
Has a chance to congeal
The cup is dashed from his lips
The flame is snuffed a-borning
He's brought to wrack and ruin in his prime."

You can do it George, you can...and, of course, in the end, George does it!

In the end, like all great bosses, with their discipline, focus, vision, and above all sense of fun, they win us all round and as we move in to greater things, like Mary, they become loved, as they say...

"Goodbye, Mary Poppins. Don't stay away too long"

..."spit-spot!"...

Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com

...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...