One of the fundamental issues in people management, and one that tends to rear its ugly head over and over again, is the tension that always exists between the interests of the organization and those of the employee.

Most managers want to treat their employees well and give them a good work environment and career-development opportunities, but often the requirements of the organization stand in the way of doing what's best for the employees.

The way you respond to these conflicting pressures will go a very long way toward determining how you are perceived by your employees. The problem is compounded by the fact that one of the main determinants of what you will be allowed to do is the culture of your organization. Most organizations decide at a high level the extent to which they want to focus on employees rather than on the interests of the organization itself; your own ability to decide will therefore always...