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Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the routine.
David Ogilvy
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Empower talented individuals to excel independently by hiring those who surpass your own abilities.

This quote by David Ogilvy emphasizes the importance of effective leadership through hiring exceptional talent and allowing them the autonomy to perform. It suggests that a successful leader is not threatened by the skills of their team members but rather encourages a culture of excellence where individuals strive for remarkable achievements rather than conforming to the ordinary.

Themes

LeadershipEmpowermentTalentExcellenceTeamwork

In practice

Example use cases

In a corporate meeting about team development, one could say, 'As David Ogilvy wisely put it, hire people who are better than you are and let them excel.'

More from David Ogilvy

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Some manufacturers illustrate their advertisements with abstract paintings. I would only do this if I wished to conceal from the reader what I was advertising.
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The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.
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Experience has taught me that advertisers get the best results when they pay their agency a flat fee. It is unrealistic to expect your agency to be impartial when its vested interest lies wholly in the direction of increasing your commissionable advertising.
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