Duty Quote by David Ogilvy
““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
Source Quote: Attributed to George Washington, cited in marketing literature
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.
