QuoteProject
A cardinal principle of Total Quality escapes too many managers: you cannot continuously improve interdependent systems and processes until you progressively perfect interdependent, interpersonal relationships.
Stephen Covey
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Improving teamwork is essential for enhancing overall quality in systems and processes.

Stephen Covey emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships in the context of Total Quality Management. He argues that before organizations can achieve continuous improvement in their systems and processes, they need to focus on perfecting their interpersonal relationships, highlighting that strong, cooperative relationships are the foundation for successful teamwork and organizational improvement.

Themes

QualityRelationshipsImprovementLeadershipTeamwork

In practice

Example use cases

During a leadership workshop, to illustrate the importance of relationships in achieving quality work.

More from Stephen Covey

How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office - or watching TV? The answer is, No one.
Stephen CoveyRead
If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee.
Stephen CoveyRead
Listen with your eyes for feelings.
Stephen CoveyRead
If we live out of our memory, we're tied to the past and to that which is finite. When we live out of our imagination, _x000D_ we're tied to that which is infinite.
Stephen CoveyRead
Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
Stephen CoveyRead
Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.
Stephen CoveyRead

Similar quotes

Words have power. Use the language of leadership versus the vocabulary of a victim.
Robin SharmaRead
It was better for me when I was joined at the court by a second woman. When I was there alone, there was too much media focus on the one woman, and the minute we got another woman, that changed.
Sandra Day O'ConnorRead
Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos.
George W. BushRead
Future generations will judge us _x000D_ not by what we say, but what we do.
Ellen Johnson SirleafRead
I want to stand up for people who look like me and feel like they don't have a voice. And I'm lucky enough that some people in the world care about what I have to say. So I try to make sure that I say it and say in a correct way, or in a way that people understand.
Coco GauffRead
There are times when even the best manager is like the little boy with the big dog, waiting to see where the dog wants to go so he can take him there.
Lee IacoccaRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.