I am on my second week of summer vacation, being away from work sets your mind free to wander. To focus my mind I go back to some inspirational quotes of ancient and recent wisdom.

First we have something from antiquity that I truly live by and have most of my life.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotele

Next we have two Deming quotes. Quite different but very important when it comes to leadership and Lean. The first one is straight forward, if people fear showing results they think will displease their managers they will find a way to make the numbers more pleasing.

“Whenever there is fear, you will get wrong figures.” – W. Edwards Deming

Then we have the role of a leader, some think it is important to have all the answers and stand tall with having all the facts. You can never have all the facts and if you think you do you will close your mind from further expansion from learning more. One very important role of the leader is to ask the right questions but also to coach the people in your charge to ask the right questions thenselves.

“If you do not know how to ask the right questions, you discover nothing.” – W. Edwards Deming

And the last one today is something I struggle with but something I strive to improve every day.

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection, and then from the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” – Peter Drucker

I hope you all are having a good summer!