Management is nothing more than motivating other people.
—Lee Iacocca (1924–2019) American Businessperson
Leadership on the other hand, is about creating change you believe in.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
A man is known by the company he organizes.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
The leader follows in front.
—Common Proverb
An executive is someone who talks with visitors so the other employees can get their work done.
—Unknown
Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
A manager is an assistant to his men.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
Organization doesn’t really accomplish anything. Plans don’t accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don’t much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.
—Colin Powell (1937–2021) American Military Leader
Things refuse to be mismanaged long.
—Common Proverb
I don’t know about you, but where I went to school, Money Management 101 wasn’t offered. Instead we learned about the War of 1812, which of course is something I use every single day.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.
—David Ogilvy (1911–99) British-American Advertising Executive
As a manager the important thing is not what happens when you are there, but what happens when you are not there.
—Ken Blanchard (b.1939) American Author, Management Consultant
Managers have traditionally developed the skills in finance, planning, marketing and production techniques. Too often the relationships with their people have been assigned a secondary role. This is too important a subject not to receive first line attention.
—William Hewlett (1913–2001) American Engineer, Inventor, Businessperson
Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers.
—Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021) U.S. Secretary of Defense
Just a few words on time management: forget all about it.
—Tim Ferriss (b.1977) American Self-help Author
Some great men owe most of their greatness to the ability of detecting in those they destine for their tools the exact quality of strength that matters for their work.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Managers thinking about accounting issues should never forget one of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite riddles: How many legs does a dog have, if you call a tail a leg? The answer: Four, because calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
Instead of forming new words I recommend to you any kind of artful management by which you may be able to give cost to old ones
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
A good manager is a man who isn’t worried about his own career but rather the careers of those who work for him. My advice: Don’t worry about yourself. Take care of those who work for you and you’ll float to greatness on their achievements.
—H. S. M. Burns (1900–71) American Businessman
You don’t need a Harvard MBA to know that the bedroom and the boardroom are just two sides of the same ballgame.
—Stephen Fry (b.1957) English Actor, Writer, Director, Broadcaster
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?'”
—Max De Pree (1924–2017) American Businessman
Note to salary setters: Pay your people the least possible and you’ll get from them the same.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folklore and superstition, and of cooperation for force…
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
When a management with a reputation for brilliance tackles a business with a reputation for bad economics, it is usually the reputation of the business that remains intact.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
Good managers have a bias for action.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
‘Teamwork’ is the word that bosses use when they actually mean ‘Do what I say.’
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
You don’t manage people; you manage things. You lead people.
—Grace Hopper (1906–92) American Naval Officer, Mathematician