The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.

Peters’ line distills a core theme of modern management: productivity is not only a function of systems and incentives, but also of human recognition. “Positive attention” implies noticing people’s work, listening, giving timely feedback, and treating employees as individuals rather than interchangeable resources. The claim is pragmatic rather than sentimental: attention increases clarity, commitment, and discretionary effort, while reducing the friction caused by disengagement or uncertainty. In Peters’ broader leadership philosophy—shaped by the quality movement and the “excellence” discourse of late-20th-century business—this frames management as an everyday practice of presence and respect, where small interpersonal behaviors can yield outsized operational results.