American Businessman, President of Avis
A good leader needs to have a compass in his head and a bar of steel in his heart.
Robert Townsend – [Leaders and Leadership]
A good manager doesn't try to eliminate conflict; he tries to keep it from wasting the energies of his people. If you're the boss and your people fight you openly when they think that you are wrong — that's healthy.
Robert Townsend – [Management]
Compromise is usually bad. It should be a last resort. If two departments or divisions have a problem they can't solve and it comes up to you, listen to both sides and then pick one or the other. This places solid accountability on the winner to make it work. Condition your people to avoid compromise.
Robert Townsend – [Business]
Consultants are people who borrow your watch and tell you what time it is, and then walk off with the watch.
Robert Townsend – [Experts]
If you don't do it with excellence, don't do it at all! Because if it's not excellent, it won't be profitable or fun, and if you're not in business for fun or profit, what the hell are you doing there?
Robert Townsend – [Business]
If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.
Robert Townsend – [Action]
Is what I'm doing or about to do getting us closer to our objective?
Robert Townsend – [Time and Time Management]
Make every decision as if you owned the whole company.
Robert Townsend – [Business]
Many ideas are good for a limited time — not forever.
Robert Townsend – [Ideas]
True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not the enrichment of the leaders.
Robert Townsend – [Leaders and Leadership]