The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out of their way while they do it.
Interpretation
Competitiveness thrives when individuals feel valued and empowered to act on their ideas.
Jack Welch emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of significance among team members. By affirming that their thoughts and actions matter, leaders can enhance competitiveness and innovation. Ultimately, effective leadership involves stepping back and allowing individuals the freedom to pursue their initiatives, which can lead to greater overall success for the organization.
In practice
In a team meeting, a manager can share this quote to encourage open dialogue and innovation.
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.
Whether individuals or organisations, we follow those who lead not because we have to, but because we want to. We follow those who lead not for them, but for ourselves.
I have nothing to do with opinions. I deal only with armed rebellion and its aiders and abettors.
For creative tasks, the best approach is often just to hire great people and get out of their way.
I've been a medical and public health professional as well as a mother. I became skilled at juggling a number of priorities and competing interests. Like many other female leaders, I've tried to serve as a role model for the young women at my organization who are trying to balance a high-level leadership position and a family.
I go to the chair of government with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.
Authority is granted to people who are perceived as authoring their own words, their own actions, their own lives, rather than playing a scripted role at great remove from their own hearts.
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