How can any company know if its processes, products, people are safe? Only if everyone is watching and telling the truth. The first part can be assumed; the second cannot.
Margaret HeffernanRead
If the company depends entirely on you - your creativity, ingenuity, inspiration, salesmanship or charisma - nobody will want to buy it. The risk and the dependency are too great.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A business should not rely on a single individual for its success.
This quote emphasizes the importance of collective effort in a business setting. If a company relies solely on one person's skills or attributes, it creates a risk that may deter potential buyers or stakeholders, highlighting the need for broader talent and resilience within the organization.
Themes
BusinessCreativityTeamworkSuccessRisk
In practice
Example use cases
In a business meeting when discussing the importance of teamwork.
More from Margaret Heffernan
All quotes →Most executives I know are so action-oriented, or action-addicted, that time for reflection is the first casualty of their success.
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Once you have power, you are inevitably surrounded by people who have their own agendas and will tell you whatever advances them.
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Those in powerless positions aren't about to complain about bullying bosses, abusive supervisors or corrupt co-workers. There is no safe way to do so and no process that promises redress.
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Bosses and leaders everywhere should cherish the people who bring them bad news, disappointing data or hard problems.
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[For constructive conflict,] we have to resist the neurobiological drive which means that we really prefer people mostly like ourselves.
Margaret HeffernanRead
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