Peter Drucker on Leadership

Peter Drucker has authored over 35 books; his ideas have impacted me in many ways. He writes of four main competences leaders need.

1. Listening:

Drucker writes, "As the first such competence, I would put the willingness, ability and self discipline to listen. Listening is not a skill; it is a discipline."

2. Communication:

Drucker continues, "The second essential competence is the willingness to communicate, to make yourself understood. That requires infinite patience."

3. Mediocrity:

Again, Drucker writes, "Say: This doesn't work as well as it should. Let's take it back and re-engineer it. We either do things to perfection, or we do not do them."

4. Selflessness:

Drucker writes, "The last basic competence is the willingness to realize how unimportant you are compared to the task. Leaders need objectivity, a certain detachment. They subordinate themselves to the task, but don't identify themselves with the task. The task remains both bigger than they are, and different."


As leaders, these four competences are vital to leading well. Blessings!