The way of the leader

is an excellent book by Donald Krause (isbn 1-85788-137-0). As usual I'm going to quote from a few pages:

Do the essential things well: Be proactive (do through action), Reduce complexity (concentrate effort on the essential things), Seek improvement (get the essential things done better).

We can never know everything there is to know about a complex process… The knowledge that we really need to optimise a complex process is unknowable. Therefore, we can only approach optimisation a little bit at a time as our understanding grows.

Battles are won by great execution, not by great plans! Great execution can save a mediocre plan; poor execution will always ruin a great plan. [George Patton]

A person who practices self-discipline and continuously develops his level of skill seldom fails in the long term.

Listen carefully. Observe closely.

When the chips are down, the main question is not how you go about meeting your objectives, but whether you succeed in doing so.

For an effective leader, determination is more important than intellect.

Perfection is the enemy of effectiveness.

The art of leadership is an art based on simplicity, and all success is rooted in performance.

Learn by observing the behaviour of other people. If you observe good behaviour, copy it. If you observe bad behaviour, look for the same behaviour in yourself and eliminate it.

There is no surer road to disaster than to fit past solutions, however successful, to current situations.

Discipline is not intended to kill character, enthusiasm, and initiative, but to develop them.

Minimize form and maximise substance.

It is better to be alone than in bad company.

It has been just so in all my inventions. The first step is intuition - and comes with a burst, then difficulties arise... Persistence is the key [Thomas Edison]

Character is a habit. It is created through the daily choice of right and wrong. It is a moral quality which grows gradually to maturity. It does not appear suddenly.