“People who don't take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year.”
Leadership
“So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.”
WorkAll Quotes by Peter Drucker
“Management by objective works - if you know the objectives. Ninety percent of the time you don't.”
Time“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.”
Change“So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.”
Work“Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed.”
Business“Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window.”
Future“Company cultures are like country cultures. Never try to change one. Try, instead, to work with what you've got.”
Change“The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager.”
Work“Teaching is the only major occupation of man for which we have not yet developed tools that make an average person capable of competence and performance. In teaching we rely on the 'naturals,' the ones who somehow know how to teach.”
Teacher“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked leadership is defined by results not attributes.”
Leadership“Few companies that installed computers to reduce the employment of clerks have realized their expectations... They now need more, and more expensive clerks even though they call them 'operators' or 'programmers.'”
Computers“Most of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to get their work done.”
Business“The purpose of a business is to create a customer.”
Business“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said.”
Communication“Suppliers and especially manufacturers have market power because they have information about a product or a service that the customer does not and cannot have, and does not need if he can trust the brand. This explains the profitability of brands.”
Power“When a subject becomes totally obsolete we make it a required course.”
Education“No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings.”
Leadership“Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.”
Power“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”
Good“My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.”
Strength