Never allow two people to do a job which one could do…
““Never allow two people to do a job which one could do. George Washington observed, ‘Whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty by close application thereto, it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Delegating tasks to too many people reduces efficiency; one capable person is often better.
In simple terms: Too many hands make work slower.
Key Takeaway
Assign tasks to the most qualified individual.
Themes
efficiency
management
productivity
Mood
analytical
practical
Type
advice
business
When to use this quote
- project management
- startup teams
- office workflow
Key Concepts
task allocation
organizational design
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide the right number of people for a task?
- What criteria determine capability?
A Different Perspective
Over-reliance on single individuals can cause burnout.