KNOWING MORE THAN YOU KNOW

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener."

Robert Frost, 20th century American poet.

Meaning, he only helps others learn what they already know, what they don't know they know.

We'd all be better off knowing at least one awakener.

ENOUGH SAID

"Whatever you teach, be brief; what is quickly said the mind readily receives and faithfully retains, while everything superfluous runs over as from a full container. Who knows much says least."

Proverb

Management: Understand?

TEACH, DON'T TELL

"The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence."

Amos Bronson Alcott (1799-1888) American educator

Important in all forms of education, business included.

Managers (should also) be teachers.

The best ones temper their own personal beliefs, providing their direct reports the best possible information so they can reach the best possible decisions.

Standing Up For What?

"Pride is the mask of one's own faults."

Jewish proverb

Not nice to think of it that way is it?

Much better to see yourself as a bulwark defending honesty, truth, and justice.

But what if you're simply wrong?

Key Man

"There is no indispensable man."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd president of the United States

While I've always known this to be true, I haven't always acted as thought I did.

My ego occasionally made me out to be more (to myself) than I actually was.

What about you?

Seeing You Is Not Necessarily Liking You

"Fanatics are picturesque; mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reason."

Frederich Nietzsche

19th century German - Swiss philosopher

I don't know that we knowingly choose, or prefer, to watch fanatical, managerial behavior.

Demonstrative managers, whether or not they warrant watching, naturally catch our attention, but only in a way similar to when we drive by an accident.

We may be compelled to watch but that does not mean we condone.

Make sure you warrant being watched.

Wisemen and Wiseguys

"A wise man's questions contain half the answers."

Solomon Ibn Gabirol

11th century Hebrew poet/Jewish philosopher

And you know those wise men when you meet them.

They have a way of getting you to answer the questions they ask, and in retrospect, you kind of know they weren't asking because they didn't know.

Those are the managers I want to work for.

Coyote Insight, LLC

Venus and Mars

"As vivacity is the gift of women, gravity is that of men."

Joseph Addison

17th century English essayist

I don't believe in absolutes; that "everything", "nothing", "everyone", "no one" is "always" or "never" this or that, including traits ascribed to men and women.

But I do think there are some differences that often are true for many.

What are they for businessmen and businesswomen?

Because I Said So! (i don't think so)

"We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom."

Stephen Vincent Benet

Early 20th century American writer

Whoever "they" were they were not the first nor the last to confuse the two.

And to the list of things they did not have I would add "control".

At most (and then not always) managers only manage.

Management: Good Enough Should Never Be

"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn."

Unknown

And to teach I would add manage.

Truth in Hiring

"The closest a person ever comes to perfection is when he fills out a job application."

Stanley J. Randall
Author

Did you ever see a resume that said anything other than good things about the applicant?

Did you ever tell an applicant anything bad about the company or position for which they were applying?

Have you ever wondered why so many hires turn out bad for the person being hired, the company or both?