When I come upon a man who has a gleaming, empty, clear desktop, I am dealing with a fellow who is so far removed from the realities of his business that someone else is running it for him.
Harold GeneenRead
It is much more difficult to measure non-performance than performance. Performance stands out like a ton of diamonds. Non-performance can almost always be explained away
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the challenge of identifying and addressing lack of productivity compared to recognizing achievements.
Harold Geneen points out that while success and high performance are easily observable and valued, failures or lack of progress often go unnoticed or can be rationalized away. This creates a significant challenge in assessing true productivity and effectiveness, as non-performance is often hidden behind excuses or justifications.
Themes
PerformanceNon-PerformanceSuccessProductivityMeasurement
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting discussing quarterly goals and outcomes, this quote could emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing underperformance.
More from Harold Geneen
All quotes βI think it is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises, but only performance is reality
Harold GeneenRead
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