The better a man is, the more mistakes will he make--for the more new things he will try. I would never promote a man into a top level job who had not made mistakes, and big ones at that. Otherwise he is sure to be mediocre. -- The Practice of Management (1954)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- High-performing individuals make more mistakes because they try new things, and avoiding mistakes signals mediocrity.
- In plain terms
- Good people make more mistakes because they try new things, while avoiding mistakes means you are not trying.
- What can you take from it?
- Value employees who take risks and make mistakes over those who play it safe.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is it better to be safe or innovative?
- How do you handle mistakes at work?
Another view
Encouraging mistakes can lead to repeated errors or reckless behavior without boundaries.
More from Peter F. Drucker
A man should never be appointed into a managerial position if his vision focuses on people's weaknesses rather than on their strengths. -- The Practice of Mana…
Permalink to quote #44 There is only one valid definition of a business purpose: to create a customer. -- The Practice of Management (1954)
Permalink to quote #46 An organization is 'sick' -- when promotion becomes more important to its people than accomplishment of their job -- when it is more concerned with avoiding mi…
Permalink to quote #43
Related quotes
A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things.
Grace HopperGrace Hopper quote #3 Marcia: Lovely. Yeah, go the rock chick. Yeah, um, you've been so great through this competition. Um, we've said no, you've come back blah blah blah blah. (sic…
Hayley JensenHayley Jensen quote #4 The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
Elbert HubbardElbert Hubbard quote #23