Sounds like an anecdote. I've worked with people who have made it a fine art to appear busy, to hold earnest conversations in hallways, to comment in IM freque

Sounds like an anecdote. I've worked with people who have made it a fine art to appear busy, to hold earnest conversations in hallways, to comment in IM frequently, yet do 10% of the work of the good performers. And we all knew who the good performers were. Managing employees in an office doesn't depend on having butts in the seat, or "eyes on them." It depends on understanding what needs to be done, communicating/delegating, and then getting out of the way.