Advisable Quote by B. C. Forbes
“The more I move among workers and factories and other plants, the stronger I become convinced that it is advisable to have as [a company] president a practical man, preferably one who has risen from the very bottom of the ladder. Workmen, I find, have far more respect for such men than for collar-and-cuff executives knowing little or nothing about the different kinds of work which have to be done by the workers. Wherever circumstances call for placing a financier or lawyer or a papa's son at the head of a large organization, he should be made chairman or some other title, but not president.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Business Leadership, 1915
Leaders who rose from the ground floor earn genuine respect, unlike detached executives.
In simple terms: Leaders with hands‑on experience command respect.
Promote from within.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- company management
- career advancement
- employee morale
- succession planning
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance insider knowledge with external innovation?
- What systems ensure merit‑based promotion?
Promoting insiders may limit fresh perspectives from external expertise.