The following piece can hardly be called “scholarly” although it has a serious purpose. No matter how high on the executive ladder one climbs, he never reaches the point where it is all “dishing out” rather than “taking in.” In fact, one of the most important talents to be cultivated by any executive is the ability to listen— to clients, to advisors, to superiors, and, above all, to subordinates. Not only may the observant administrator learn something in this way, but his sympathetic ear provides the much-needed safety valve that helps enable a disparate collection of individuals work together as a team. This ability is particularly important in the average radio station, where the station manager must dispense sympathy and advice together with directions, praise, and blame. Naturally, when the complaints of an employee become obviously irrational, one should seek profession medical help. Short of that point, “just listening” often works wonders. Learning (or reminding ourselves) of the kinds of problems and complaints listened to by the manager of a typical commercial radio station should enable us to solve, or at least to be less impatient with, the similar problems and complaints poured out by our own co-workers. Jay Hoffer obviously has listened keenly during his years as station manager and program director of KRAK Radio in Sacramento, California. His, ear for dialogue makes it a pleasure to listen to “Problems, Problems, Nothing but Problems.”
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