2. Construct an alternate memo expressing the same concerns, but using more confirming language. A chief executive who sent his staff an email accusing them of being lazy and threatening them with the sack has seen the share price of his company plummet after his message was posted on the Internet.

In the three days after publication of his outburst—

which gave managers a two-week ultimatum to shape up—stock in the American health care company dropped by 22 per cent over concerns about staff morale. It is now trading at more than a third less than it was before the email was sent. Neal Patterson, head of the Cerner Corporation, based in Kansas City, has spent the past three weeks trying to assuage investors.

His email to managers read: “We are getting less than 40 hours of work from a large number of our EMPLOYEES. The parking lot is sparsely used at 8am; likewise at 5pm. As managers, you either do not know what your EMPLOYEES are doing or you do not CARE. In either case, you have a problem and you will fix it or I will replace you.”

His email read: “NEVER in my career have I allowed a team which worked for me to think they had a 40-hour job. I have allowed YOU to create a culture which is permitting this. NO LONGER.” He added that “hell will freeze over” before he increased employee benefits. He wanted to see the car park nearly full by 7.30am and half full at weekends. He wrote: “You have two weeks. Tick, tock.”