Quotes on Management

The monetary managers are fond of telling us that they have substituted 'responsible money management' for the gold standard. But there is no historic record of responsible paper money management ... The record taken, as a whole is one of hyperinflation, devaluation and monetary chaos.

You take my life when you do take the means whereby I live

Unity, not uniformity, must be our aim. We attain unity only through variety. Differences must be integrated, not annihilated, not absorbed.

Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.

You can't solve a problem with the management of technology with more technology.

When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.

If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers.

We judge ourselves by our intentions. And others by their actions.

...in the words of Max DePree: "Management has a lot to do with answers. But leadership is a function of questions. And the first question for a leader always is: 'Who do we intend to be?' Not 'What are we going to do?' but 'Who do we intend to be?'"

If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.

I think that the best training a top manager can be engaged in is management by example. I want to make sure there is no discrepancy between what we say and what we do. If you preach accountability and then promote somebody with bad results, it doesn't work. I personally believe the best training is management by example. Don't believe what I say. Believe what I do.

Nothing is stronger than habit.

You can buy a person's hands but you can't buy his heart. His heart is where his enthusiasm, his loyalty is.

You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership. It might help if we ran the MBAs out of Washington.

I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.

Anger is one letter short of danger.

Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.

People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.

There's no better way to inform and expand you mind on a regular basis than to get into the habit of reading good literature.

Always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end.

It is better to create than to learn! Creating is the essence of life.