Page 216 - The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership

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Making Time to Think

‘What advice can be offered to a leader? He must discipline himself and

lead a carefully regulated and ordered life.He must allow a certain amount

of time for quiet thought and reflection;the best times are in the early
morning,and in the evening.The quality,good or bad,of any action which

is to be taken will vary directly with the time spent in thinking;against

this,he must not be rigid;his decisions and plans must be adaptable to

changing situations.A certain ruthlessness is essential,particularly with

inefficiency and also with those who would waste his time.People will

accept this,provided the leader is ruthless with himself...

Most leaders will find there is so much to do and so little time to do it;

that was my experience in the military sphere.My answer to that is not to
worry;what is needed is a quiet contemplation of all aspects of the

problem,followed by a decision – and it is fatal to worry afterwards.’

Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery

‘Is there not a difference between

good leaders and leaders for good?’

John Lord

206 The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership