Everyone reports to someone: a superior, customers, directors, shareholders, the financial community, or voters. Do your sincere best to serve the interests of whomever you report to. Subordinates should stay focused on the goals of their superiors. In turn, their superiors should always look after the interests of their subordinates. Each should know that they can rely on the other. If a leader sees to the maintenance of such relationships at all levels of his organization, the organization will be highly responsive to that leader’s direction and will. Show respect to your direct subordinates. If you don’t, their subordinates will pick up on it and mimic it. It will diminish the effectiveness of your direct subordinates.