Quotes in managing people

A tightrope over a chasm is fine for a trained acrobat with a balancing pole. It is foolish for someone without the right training or tools. They would be better served with something else - a rope bridge with railings.

Best efforts are essential. Unfortunately, best efforts, people charging this way and that way without guidance of principles, can do a lot of damage.

the system that people work in and the interaction with people may account for 90 or 95 percent of performance.

Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.

Take time to appreciate employees and they will reciprocate in a thousand ways.

The real problems in the office are the managers and the meetings.

You can't work directly on morale. You work on other things and morale will come along with it.

You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.

People may take a job for more money, but they often leave it for more recognition.

Sometimes I wonder how to describe my job to other people. 'Sysadmin of a people network' kind of describes it, but sounds a little weird.