"If there were only one sunset every twenty years, how would people react to it?"
Travis McGee quote from One Fearful Yellow Eye, author John MacDonald

Rule #1.a. People are purposeful animals. Whatever they do, they do for a reason that makes sense to them.
Rule #1.b. The organization is a purposeful animal. Whatever it does, it does for a reason that makes sense to it at that particular time. Five minutes later . . .

Rule #2.a. People first spend energy to react to tensions. Whatever energy is left is then used to be productive.
Rule #2.b. The organization first spends energy to react to tensions. Whatever energy is left is then used to be productive.

Rule #3.a. Leader: minimize people’s tensions and they will have more energy to be productive.
Rule #3.b. Leader: minimize the organization’s tensions and it will have more energy to be productive.

Rule #4. Take care lest you free fierce dragons and slay fair maidens.

Rule #5.a. The boss is always right.
Rule #5.b. If the boss is wrong, remember Rule #5.a.

Rule #6. If the boss tells you to do something his way and you know it won’t work his way, do it your way. If it works, tell the boss you did it his way. If it doesn’t work, tell the boss you did it his way.

Rule #7. People with nothing to gain or lose are difficult to control. Arrange the situation so that at all times something can be offered or withheld.