Quotes from John Adair

I have always endeavored to listen to chat each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my own opinion. Oftentimes my own opinion will simply represent a consensus of what I heard in the discussion" (Mandela - p 31)

Ten soldiers wisely led, Will beat a hundred without a head Euripides (fifth century BC)

So, what qualities must you have to be a good delegator? There are five main tips: 1 Choose the right staff. 2 Train them. 3 Take care in briefing them, and ensuring their understanding of the `why' and `how to' oftasks delegated to them (and in imparting to them an understanding ofbusiness aims and policies). 4 Try not to interfere - stand back and support. 5 Control in a sensible and sensitive manner by checking progress at agreed intervals.

We know now that someone in a leadership role has three core and overlapping functions: to achieve the tasks, to hold a group together as a unity, and to meet individual needs.

they will have the right to expect from you the highest standards of character, professional competence and integrity.

Apart from the qualities of muruwaa - courage, generosity, integrity, fairness, and honor or good reputation - a Bedouin chief needed practical wisdom, for he needed to be a skilled negotiator, to be able to resolve quarrels between his followers before they got out of hand, and to deal with allies from other tribes" p54

No Bedouin wished to be outdone in showing kindness to a guest in his tent - or to be shamed by the charge of not being open-handed or magnanimous. p 55