So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.
The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager.
Management by objective works - if you know the objectives. Ninety percent of the time you don't.
Teaching is the only major occupation of man for which we have not yet developed tools that make an average person capable of competence and performance. In teaching we rely on the 'naturals, ' the ones who somehow know how to teach.
My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.
Suppliers and especially manufacturers have market power because they have information about a product or a service that the customer does not and cannot have, and does not need if he can trust the brand. This explains the profitability of brands.
Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.
No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings.
Making good decisions is a crucial skill at every level.
People who don't take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year.
Management is doing things right leadership is doing the right things.
Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked leadership is defined by results not attributes.
Checking the results of a decision against its expectations shows executives what their strengths are, where they need to improve, and where they lack knowledge or information.
A manager is responsible for the application and performance of knowledge.
Today knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.
Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes.
Never mind your happiness do your duty.
Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.
The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.
Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window.