Nothing that man does is eternal.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
“How to be an Effective Executive,” Nation’s Business (Apr 1961)
Quotations by:
Drucker, Peter F.
Do not believe that it is very much of an advance to do the unnecessary three times as fast.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(1969)
On computers
My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
Broadly attributed to Drucker, but no actual writing or citeable speech can be found.
Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
What gets measured, gets managed.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
Frequently cited, but not sourced. Cf. Lord Kelvin.
Culture eats strategy for breakfast.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
Frequently attributed to Drucker, but not found in his writings. See here for more discussion.
Never push loyal people to the point where they don’t give a damn.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
(Attributed)
A close variant, sometimes identified with Drucker: "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care."
Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 2 (1974)
Sometimes quoted as "Management" and "Leadership"; also attrib. Warren Bennis
Integrity is the one absolute requirement of managers.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 28 (1974)
The understanding that underlies the right decision grows out of the clash and conflict of opinions and out of the serious consideration of competing alternatives.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 29 (1974)
The danger of total propaganda is not that the propaganda will be believed. The danger is that nothing will be believed. … The end result of total propaganda are not fanatics, but cynics.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 30 (1974)
What makes a plan capable of producing results is the commitment of key people to work on specific tasks.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, ch. 8 (1977 ed.)
The productivity of work is not the responsibility of the worker but of the manager.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
Managing in Turbulent Times, ch. 1 “Managing the Fundamentals” (1980)
(Source)
No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
The Concept of the Corporation, Part 2, ch. 1 (1946)
(Source)
Drucker returned to this concept in a later book, The Effective Executive, ch. 1 (1966), where he wrote (about finding such things):But we are not going to breed a new race of supermen. We will have to run our organizations with men as they are.
It requires building on strength to make weaknesses irrelevant. Few things make an executive as effective as building on the strength of his superior.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
The Effective Executive, 4.2 (1967)
No decision has been made unless carrying it out in specific steps has become someone’s work assignment and responsibility.
Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-American business consultant
The Effective Executive, 4.2.4 (1967)