Quote of the Week
"A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times."
Lord Acton, 1834-1902. English historian.
Wise or a fool?
Previous weeks' quotes:
"Leaders work on the culture of the organisation, creating it or changing it. Managers work within the culture of the organisation."
Edgar H. Shein, "Organizational Culture" in J. Thomas Wren, ed. The Leader's Companion .
Are you a leader or a manager?
I think that the best training a top manager can be engaged in is management by example. I want to make sure there is no discrepancy between what we say and what we do. If you preach accountability and then promote somebody with bad results, it doesn't work. I personally believe the best training is management by example. Don't believe what I say. Believe what I do."
Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan
So what sort of example will you set today?
If productive influence doesn’t arise from being liked (“I’m your friend!”) or from fear (“I’m the boss!”), where does it come from? From people’s trust in you as a manager. That trust has two components: belief in your competence (you know what to do and how to do it) and belief in your character (your motives are good and you want your people to do well).
Trust is the foundation of all forms of influence other than coercion, and you need to conduct yourself with others in ways that foster it. Management really does begin with who you are as a person.
Kent L. Lineback, Linda A. Hill
Harvard Business Review
How much trust do those who work with, or for, you have in you?
High performance isn't just about achieving "greatness" or "excellence," concepts that are far too static. Nor is it just about ensuring long-term survival by building a company that will last. High performance is about outperforming rivals again and again, even as the basis of competition in an industry or market changes.
Paul F Noons and Tim Breene - Accenture
Is your organisation High Performing or just trying hard?
Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.
Harry S Truman
Are you standing still or leading?
"We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganised. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganising: and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress, while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation."
Caius Petronius, Roman Consul, 66 A.D.
Ever find this is still true?
A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.
Russell H Ewing
Are you a boss or a leader?