Harold Geneen

Every company has two organizational structures: The formal one is written on the charts; the other is the everyday relationship of the men and women in the organization.

Harold Geneen

Facts from paper are not the same as facts from people. The reliability of the people giving you the facts is as important as the facts themselves.

Harold Geneen

I don’t believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.

Harold Geneen

I think it is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises – but only performance is reality.

Harold Geneen

It is much more difficult to measure nonperformance than performance.

Harold Geneen

Management must have a purpose, a dedication and that dedication must have an emotional commitment. It must be built in as a vital part of the personality of anyone who truly is a manager.

Harold Geneen

Ninety-nine percent of all surprises in business are negative.

Harold Geneen

Performance stands out like a ton of diamonds. Nonperformance can always be explained away.

Harold Geneen

The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.

Harold Geneen

The worst disease which can afflict business executives in their work is not, as popularly supposed, alcoholism; it’s egotism.

Harold Geneen