The purpose of an organization is to enable ordinary humans beings to do extraordinary things.
Peter DruckerRead
Manners are the lubricating oil of an organization. It is a law of nature that two moving bodies in contact with each other create friction. This is as true for human beings as it is for inanimate objects.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good manners help smooth interactions and reduce conflicts within an organization.
Peter Drucker emphasizes that just as lubrication reduces friction between mechanical parts, good manners and etiquette serve to ease interactions among people in an organization. This moral and social oil fosters better communication, collaboration, and efficiency, preventing unnecessary conflicts that may arise from misunderstandings or rudeness.
Themes
MannersOrganizationLeadershipCommunicationFrictionEtiquette
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting, I quoted Drucker to emphasize the importance of respectful communication.
More from Peter Drucker
All quotes →In the Western tradition, we have focused on teaching as a skill and forgotten what Socrates knew: teaching is a gift, learning is a skill.
Peter DruckerRead
We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.
Peter DruckerRead
The basic economic resource - the means of production -_x000D_ _x000D_ is no longer capital, nor natural resources, nor labor._x000D_ _x000D_ It is and will be knowledge.
Peter DruckerRead
Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes... but no plans.
Peter DruckerRead
The strength of the computer lies in its being a logic machine. It does precisely what it is programed to do. This makes it fast and precise. It also makes it a total moron; for logic is essentially stupid.
Peter DruckerRead
Similar quotes
I go to the chair of government with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.
George WashingtonRead
You will find me standing up to my rack, as the people's faithful representative, and the public's most obedient, very humble servant.
Davy CrockettRead
On a good team there are no superstars. There are great players who show they are great players by being able to play with others as a team. They have the ability to be superstars, but if they fit into a good team, they make sacrifices, they do things necessary to help the team win. What the numbers are in salaries or statistics don't matter; how they play together does.
Red HolzmanRead
My own experience is that the best outcomes are reached when opposing viewpoints are clearly and strongly presented before decisions are made.
Jerome PowellRead
No way can you ever, ever, ever evidence confusion, concern, lack of understanding. You have to be in charge. You are the guy. You have to be cooler than cool, smarter than smart.
Gene KranzRead
The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port to seek.
Henry AdamsRead