Water flows down hill. If printer owners or executive management treat middle managers and their staff with respect and care, then print buyers will be treated the same way. The reverse is true as well. The best run printers treat everyone with respect and it starts at the very top. Don’t underestimate the importance of the comments that flow from the president, vice presidents, or upper managers when speaking to staff, other managers, or customers. Consistency is important. Operations with a solid executive management team are way ahead of the game. Yes, they must be sharp, but surveys show that people rather be led by someone they can trust and who care far more than the brightest bulb on the shelf. Trustworthiness trumps intelligence on every leadership study conducted. If you want to make sure that your customers are treated right and your reputation and brand are preserved in the market, then make sure your employees feel good about working for you. Here is how you do this.