From day one I told my people that they were to focus on their work and I would handle the BS. I limited the meetings I held or what we were invited to. Reports were done only if necessary. BS work was stopped. Some resisted because they thought these were important status type things. once they realized it was a waste of time, they were appreciative.

A good manager realizes that his people assets have only so much time to get things done. And that is the focus. Everything else is a waste of a valuable commodity, time. Poor managers are clueless. That is why they are poor managers.