There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its work force and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation of its employees
Ricardo SemlerRead
The era of using people as production tools is coming to an end. Participation is infinitely more complex to practice than conventional corporate unilateralism, just as democracy is much more cumbersome than dictatorship. But there will be few companies that can afford to ignore either of them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The traditional model of viewing employees as mere tools is outdated, and modern businesses must embrace complex participation and democracy in the workplace.
In this quote, Ricardo Semler highlights the shift away from treating employees merely as tools for production in favor of a more participatory and democratic approach to management. He argues that while this shift may introduce complexities and challenges, it is necessary for organizations to adapt to remain relevant and effective in a changing world, indicating that ignoring these trends could be detrimental to business success.
Themes
ParticipationDemocracyLeadershipBusinessEmployees
In practice
Example use cases
During a corporate workshop on management styles, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of employee involvement in decision-making.
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All quotes →The purpose of work is not to make money. The purpose of work is to make the workers, whether working stiffs or top executives, feel good about life.
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