Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.
A manager is responsible for the application and performance of knowledge.
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.
Accept the fact that we have to treat almost anybody as a volunteer.
Business, that's easily defined - it's other people's money.
Company cultures are like country cultures. Never try to change one. Try, instead, to work with what you've got.
Few companies that installed computers to reduce the employment of clerks have realized their expectations... They now need more, and more expensive clerks even though they call them 'operators' or 'programmers.'
Most of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to get their work done.
Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.
Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.
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.
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.
So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.
Never mind your happiness; do your duty.
My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.