Competition should not be for a share of the market-but to expand the market.
W. Edwards DemingRead
The aim of leadership should be to improve the performance of man and machine, to improve quality, to increase output, and simultaneously to bring pride of workmanship to people. Put in a negative way, the aim of leadership is not merely to find and record failures of men, but to remove the causes of failure: to help people to do a better job with less effort.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Effective leadership focuses on enhancing both human and machine performance while fostering a sense of pride in work.
In this quote, W. Edwards Deming emphasizes that true leadership is about uplifting the capabilities of individuals and systems rather than merely identifying and documenting failures. By removing obstacles and enhancing quality and output, leaders can inspire pride in their teams, ultimately creating a more productive and motivated workforce.
Themes
LeadershipPerformanceImprovementQualityEffort
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting focused on enhancing productivity, the manager quotes Deming to emphasize the importance of a supportive leadership approach.
More from W. Edwards Deming
All quotes →The job can't be finished only improved to please the customer.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Don't expect smart people to listen to you without proof.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Quality begins with the intent, which is fixed by management.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Learn the basics of analytics and people will love you. If you don't have time to learn, hire someone.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Just because you can measure everything doesn't mean that you should.
W. Edwards DemingRead
Similar quotes
A leader, first and foremost, is human. Only when we have the strength to show our vulnerability can we truly lead.
Simon SinekRead
To get people to do needed things is the perennial hard task of government, not to mention of religion and philosophy.
Gore VidalRead
History has repeatedly been changed by people who had the desire and the ability to transfer their convictions and emotions to their listeners.
Dale CarnegieRead
A lot of people ask what it takes to move from being a creative to a leader: Take everyone's career personally. People will work hard for you if you work hard for them. Any idiot can be a boss; all you need is a title. But to be a leader, you need to earn respect and have an opinion you stand by.
David DrogaRead
The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.
Lyndon B. JohnsonRead
The reality is that the United States military alone cannot be all things to all nations. We will sharpen the application of our resources, better deploy our forces in the world and share our burdens more and more effectively with our partners. And frankly, all our allies need to do the same.
Leon PanettaRead