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Peter Drucker's mantras for success
September 24, 2008
Leaders communicate in the sense that people around them know what they are trying to do. They are purpose driven -- yes, mission driven. They know how to establish a mission.
I tell all my clients that it is absolutely imperative that they spend a few weeks each year outside their own business and actively working in the marketplace, or in a university lab in the case of technical people. The best way is for the chief executive officer to take the place of a salesman twice a year for two weeks.
Few top executives can even imagine the hatred, contempt and fury that has been created -- not primarily among blue-collar workers who never had an exalted opinion of the 'bosses' -- but among their middle management and professional people.
When you are the chief executive, you're the prisoner of your organisation. The moment you're in the office, everybody comes to you and wants something, and it is useless to lock the door. They'll break in. So, you have to get outside the office. But still, that isn't travelling. That's being at home or having a secret office elsewhere. When you're alone, in your secret office, ask the question, 'What needs to be done?' Develop your priorities and don't have more than two. I don't know anybody who can do three things at the same time and do them well. Do one task at a time or two tasks at a time. That's it. OK, two works better for most. Most people need the change of pace. But, when you are finished with two jobs or reach the point where it's futile, make the list again. Don't go back to priority three. At that point, it's obsolete.
We suffer from over-choice: 67 varieties of toothpaste, 487 styles of shoes, 186 brands of cell phones with 137 telephone companies. We demand more variety than we could possibly need or want; and as a result, we get lost in options, opportunities, and choices. There are 87 varieties of lawyers, and 75 specialties inside medicine. The world of work can be a confusing landscape.
Image: Leaders communicate -- Anil Ambani is India's highest paid CEO. Reliance ADAG has a market capitalisation of Rs 325,000 crore ($81 billion), net assets in excess of Rs 115,000 crore ($29 billion), and net worth to the tune of Rs 55,000 crore ($14 billion). | Photograph: Pal Pillai/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: India's highest paid CEOs
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