When I was a young man, I was poor. In a war with other nations, I was in eighty-seven fights. There I received my name and was made Chief of my nation. But now I am old and am for peace.
Red CloudRead
Whether somebody is really competent - whether he has a good hockey mind, whether he's a good person to lead a hockey club - is something determined over a long period of time, not one tournament.
Interpretation
True competence and leadership qualities are revealed over time rather than through a single event.
In this quote, Steve Yzerman emphasizes that assessing someone's true ability and character in leadership roles, particularly in a competitive environment like hockey, requires a long-term perspective. Rather than relying on the outcome of a single tournament, one must observe an individual's consistent actions, decision-making, and influence over time to understand their true capabilities and compatibility with a team's needs.
In practice
During a leadership seminar, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of long-term evaluation in leadership roles.
When I was a young man, I was poor. In a war with other nations, I was in eighty-seven fights. There I received my name and was made Chief of my nation. But now I am old and am for peace.
The government I led gave ordinary people peace, security, dignity, and opportunity to progress.
People and organizations don't grow much without delegation and completed staff work because they are confined to the capacities of the boss and reflect both personal strengths and weaknesses.
Even though worker capacity and motivation are destroyed when leaders choose power over productivity, it appears that bosses would rather be in control than have the organization work well.
The first lesson in civics is that efficient government begins at home.
The speed of the fleet is not determined by the fastest vessel; rather it is determined by the slowest one.
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