#ma

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#doing #may #much #you

Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#error #lack #margin #precise #precision

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#amiss #few #gone #how #improve

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#back #backwards #clear #find #forward

Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#customers #distance #layers #management #organization

Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#amateur #back #best #cannot #country

Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#improve #performance #president #resign #value

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#automatically #considered #directives #disagree #hasn

Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#areas #bottleneck #decision #delegate #down

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If you run, you may lose. And, if you tie, you do not win. ↗

— Donald Rumsfeld

#first #lose #may #politics #rule