QuoteProject
Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.
Stephen Covey
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Management focuses on efficiency, while leadership ensures that efforts are directed towards the right goals.

This quote emphasizes the distinction between management and leadership. Management is concerned with how effectively tasks are completed, often represented as climbing the ladder of success. However, leadership plays a crucial role in identifying and ensuring that the goals pursued are appropriate, which is symbolized by ensuring the ladder is against the right wall. Without effective leadership, the efforts in management may lead to success that is ultimately misguided or misaligned with the organization's true purpose.

Themes

ManagementLeadershipSuccessEfficiencyGoals

In practice

Example use cases

During a corporate training session to discuss the importance of leadership versus management.

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

First of all, you've got to have a vision of 'What kind of program do I want to have?' Then you've got to have a plan to implement it. Then you've got to set the example that you want, develop the principles and values that are important, and get people to buy into it.
Nick SabanRead
You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad.
James MattisRead
It is the right of government to protect the weak; it is the right of the weak to find in their courts fair treatment before the law.
Robert KennedyRead
Such a man the times have demanded, and such, in the providence of God was given us. But he is gone. Let us strive to deserve, as far as mortals may, the continued care of Divine Providence, trusting that, in future national emergencies, He will not fail to provide us the instruments of safety and security.
Abraham LincolnRead
You can't manage by memo. You can't stand up there and just send out edicts. I think you just gotta really personalize your relationships.
Tony La RussaRead
In our experience, what we have found is the rare commodity is a good management team. And good management teams manage through good and bad cycles and manage to grow their business over a long period of time.
Warren StephensRead

A little wisdom, now and then

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