(Extracted from Double Your Profits: In Six Months Or Less by Bob Fifer)
When part of my (or a client’s) organization asks for another person, I say no. When they ask again, I say no. When they ask a third time, I say no a third time. When they’re virtually screaming that the added resources are needed and they can’t function to the right level without them, I investigate and often (but not always) let them hire more people.
… A truly busy employee is forced to prioritize and do only the truly worthwhile things. More importantly, a manager with scarce resources reporting to him or her is forced to prioritize and to get things done efficiently.
… The only way to promote efficiency and eliminate unnecessary work and motion is to keep human resources scarce.