My bosses cautioned me about my candor. Now my GE career is over, and I'm telling you that it was my candor that helped make it work.
Interpretation
Candor, or honesty, is crucial in leadership, even if it can come with risks.
In this quote, Jack Welch reflects on the importance of being candid in a leadership role. Although he faced cautions from his superiors about his open and honest communication style, he ultimately believes that this very candor was pivotal to his career's success, suggesting that transparency can foster trust and effectiveness in leadership.
In practice
During a team meeting to discuss project progress, I shared my candid thoughts using Jack Welch's quote to emphasize the value of honesty.
You've got to eat while you dream. You've got to deliver on short-range commitments, while you develop a long-range strategy and vision and implement it. The success of doing both. Walking and chewing gum if you will. Getting it done in the short-range, and delivering a long-range plan, and executing on that.
I wanted to change the rules of engagement, asking for more- from fewer. I was insisting that we had to have only the best people...If you wanted excellence, at a minimum, the ambience had to reflect excellence.
A leader's role is not to control people or stay on top of things, but rather to guide, energize and excite.
Control your own destiny or someone else will.
The idea flow from the human spirit is absolutely unlimited. All you have to do is tap into that well. I don't like to use the word efficiency. It's creativity. It's a belief that every person counts.
An overburdened, overstretched executive is the best executive, because he or she doesn't have the time to meddle, to deal in trivia, to bother people.
It's a blessing that South Africa has a man like Nelson Mandela.
The primary skill of a manager consists of knowing how to make assignments and picking the right people to carry out those assignments
I spent my 20s earning minimum wage decorating cakes for a living. But one day, I looked in the mirror and realized I wanted more, for me and my people. I saw too many Native Americans struggling, and I realized we should have a voice in who our elected officials are.
Dumbledore will only leave from Hogwarts when there are none loyal to him!
The challenge for each one of you is to take up these ideals of tolerance and respect for others and put them to practical use in your schools, your communities and throughout your lives.
The biggest obstacle that stalls leaders' growth is the human ego. When leaders start to think they know it all, they stop growing.
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