PAGES : The Bard on . . . the Art of the Deal

Long before the Harvard Business School and the “One-Minute Manager,” there was the time-tested counsel of William Shakespeare.

Now his theories on management and executive philosophy can be found in “Shakespeare on Management” by Jay M. Shafritz, a compilation of his works with wry commentary by Shafritz on “Dining Room Deals,” “Flatterers and Yes Men,” “Office Politics” and more.

Here is the immortal bard on:

* Making decisions: “Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt.”

* Negotiating techniques: “Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy.”

* Dressing for success: “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express’d ain fancy, rich, not gaudy, For the apparel oft proclaims the man.”

* Motivating employees: “When we our betters see bearing woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes.”

* Contingency planning: “But since the affairs of men rests still uncertain, Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.”

Shafritz writes that using Shakespeare in management can add wit and tone to ordinary memos and dull speeches. Then he notes: “As Britain’s Prince Philip purportedly said, ‘A man (or woman) can be forgiven a lot if he can quote Shakespeare in an economic crisis.’ ”

Our presidential candidates might do well to take note.