Hire and promote first on the basis of integrity; second…
“Hire and promote first on the basis of integrity; second, motivation; third, capacity; fourth, understanding; fifth, knowledge; and last and least, experience. Without integrity, motivation is dangerous; without motivation, capacity is impotent; without capacity, understanding is limited; without understanding, knowledge is meaningless; without knowledge, experience is blind. Experience is easy to provide and quickly put to good use by people with all the other qualities.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Integrity is the foundation of effective leadership; each subsequent quality depends on the previous one, making integrity essential for success.
In simple terms: Integrity must come first; everything else builds on it.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize integrity in hiring.
Themes
leadership
trust
values
organization
human resources
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
advice
principle
When to use this quote
- recruiting
- team building
- performance management
- leadership development
Key Concepts
ethical foundations
hierarchical dependency
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess integrity reliably?
- What balance of experience and other traits yields the best teams?
A Different Perspective
Integrity alone cannot guarantee competence; other traits still matter.