Meir Liraz > Quotes

“If you are to make delegation work, you must allow your managers freedom to do things their way. You and the company are in trouble if you try to measure your assistants by whether or not they do a particular task exactly as you would do it. They should be judged by their results - not their methods.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Let others take care of the details." That, in a few words, is the meaning of delegating work and responsibility.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“What is done one night under the influence of alcoholic merriment might be regretted for hundreds of nights in clear headed sobriety!”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Without action, forecasts and decisions about the future are not worth the paper they are written on. A decision that does not result in action is a poor one. The pace of business demands timely as well as informed decision making.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Keep a list of birthdays, marriage and work anniversaries and other special dates. Provide recognition to your people on each of these dates. Mark your calendar prior to the actual date so you have time to prepare for it.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Manage by walking around. See what people are doing and listen to what they have to say.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Employees are the only organization resource that can, with training, appreciate in value. All other resources depreciate.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Keep a "warm fuzzy" file for each person a place to keep track of the things you have already complimented them for, and want to compliment them for. -- Have regular performance review and goal setting sessions with each of your employees at least every three months.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Help others see how they will benefit from doing a job. This is when they truly become motivated.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

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― Meir Liraz, Small Business Management: Essential Ingredients for Success

“Do not avoid talking to a poor performer. It hurts them, the organization and yourself if the situation is not dealt with.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Never criticize an employee in front of others. Have all discussions of a corrective nature in private.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Life is a journey from where you are to where you want to be.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“First Rule of Profit Making: Know Your Business The time-honored truth "Knowledge is power" is especially pertinent to the owner-manager of a small business. To keep your company pointed toward profit you must keep yourself well informed about it. You must know how the company is doing before you can improve its operation. You must know its weak points before you can correct them. Some of the knowledge you need you pick up from day-to-day personal observation, but records should be your principal source of information about profits, costs, and sales.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“The popular press focused on the new cult heroes Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniack (creators and developers of the Apple Computer) while ignoring the marketing and organizing talents of Mike Markula, the executive responsible for Apple's business plan. The story of two guys selling their Volkswagen bus to build the first Apple computer was more romantic than that of the organizational genius that enabled Apple to develop, market and ship its products while rapidly becoming a major corporation.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Catch people doing things right and then let them know that they are doing things right.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Success is defined as "the progressive realization of a worthwhile goal." If you are doing the things that are moving you toward the attainment of your goal, then you are "successful" even if you are not there yet.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Experienced and secure business people are not impressed by who you know as much as what you know.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Practice naive listening. Don't talk, just let people explain why they are doing the types of things that they are doing. You will learn many things.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“The following checklist addressing how you would respond to an employee's suggestion provides an assessment of the communication process in your business. Place a check next to the statements that are commonly heard in your business. Statement Face facts it's unrealistic. ----- Who else has done it? ----- It's not your problem. ----- Fill out form XX/xx revised. ----- It won't work. ----- Bring it to the committee. ----- We don't have the time. ----- We tried it before and it failed. ----- You think what? You're joking! ----- Everybody knows that that's foolish. ----- We can't afford to think about it. ----- Don't you have better things to do? ----- Are you some kind of a radical? ----- We're too small/big for that. ----- Impossible; our main product line would be obsolete. ----- The boss would never consider it. ----- It's contrary to company policy. ----- Carefully consider any statements that you have checked. This may indicate that management is inflexible and unresponsive to employee suggestions.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Delegating work, responsibility, and authority is difficult in a company because it means letting others make decisions which involve spending the owner-manager's money. At a minimum, you should delegate enough authority to get the work done, to allow assistants to take initiative, and to keep the operation moving in your absence.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Your Personal Angel A story about an angel who has been taking care of you even before you were born and will always take care no matter how much you grow old.... you know that angel as Mother, Mamma, Mom... My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, ‘Eeee, your mom only has one eye!’ I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, ‘ If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?’ My mom did not respond… I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, ‘How dare you come to my house and scare my children!’ Get Out Of Here! Now!’ And to this, my mother quietly answered, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,’ and she disappeared out of sight. One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have. My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see... when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. With all my love to you, Your mother ”
― Meir Liraz, Top 100 Motivational Stories: The Best Inspirational Short Stories And Anecdotes Of All Time

“Practice the golden rule in business: Do unto others the way you would have them do unto you. Fairness will then be in your business. -- Practice the platinum rule in interpersonal relationships. It is "Do unto others, the way they want to be done unto." They will be more apt to stay comfortable when interacting with us when we are able to do things their preferred way.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Toward the end of the 1980s, business managers became absorbed in improving product quality, sometimes ignoring their role vis-a-vis personnel. The focus was on reducing costs and increasing output, while ignoring the long-term benefits of motivating personnel. This shortsighted view tended to increase profits in the short term, but created a dysfunctional long-term business environment.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Life is a journey from where you are to where you want to be. You can choose your own destination.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“Be a member of the 4 F club with others. Be seen as Fair, Firm, Friendly and having Foresight.”
― Meir Liraz, How to Improve Your Leadership and Management Skills - Effective Strategies for Business Managers

“A story about an angel who has been taking care of you even before you were born and will always take care no matter how much you grow old.... you know that angel as Mother, Mamma, Mom... My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, ‘Eeee, your mom only has one eye!’ I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, ‘ If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?’ My mom did not respond… I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, ‘How dare you come to my house and scare my children!’ Get Out Of Here! Now!’ And to this, my mother quietly answered, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,’ and she disappeared out of sight. One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have. My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see... when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. With all my love to you, Your mother ”
― Meir Liraz, Top 100 Motivational Stories: The Best Inspirational Short Stories And Anecdotes Of All Time