If the head man in a company is not working 12 hours a day, doing things, taking risks, but also standing with his people in the trenches at the most difficult of times, then the company loses something.
Interpretation
Effective leadership requires hard work, risk-taking, and solidarity with the team during tough times.
This quote emphasizes the importance of a leader's engagement and commitment to their organization. It suggests that a head leader should not only work long hours and take risks but also support and stand alongside their team during challenges. This shared experience fosters trust and dedication within the company, ultimately leading to better outcomes and a strong organizational culture.
In practice
In a company meeting, a CEO can reference this quote to inspire executives to prioritize active engagement with their teams.
We will hire someone with less experience, less education, and less expertise, than someone who has more of those things and has a rotten attitude. Because we can train people. We can teach people how to lead. We can teach people how to provide customer service. But we can't change their DNA.
Value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.
I've learned some exciting things - mostly, that people really want to help each other; and that, if you can lay out a vision for them - and that vision is sincere and genuine - they'll get interested.
Social-sector organizations have to be better managed than for-profit organizations... because they have no margin of error.
Great empires are not maintained by timidity.
Employee loyalty begins with employer loyalty. Your employees should know that if they do the job they were hired to do with a reasonable amount of competence and efficiency, you will support them.
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