Important decision Quote by Dennis W. Bakke
““While there is no doubt that certain specific skills and experiencesmay be very helpful in preparing a person for a particular job, we should be careful not to require these skills. We will not find the people most capable of making important decisions by instituting arbitrary or inflexible prerequisites. On the contrary, these requirements end up excluding some of the best possible people.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Business Leadership Talk, 1990s
Requiring rigid skill prerequisites can block talented decision‑makers; flexibility uncovers hidden potential.
In simple terms: Rigid requirements can hide talent.
Allow flexible qualifications.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- hiring
- team building
- leadership development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance skill checks with openness?
- What hidden strengths might we miss?
Rigid criteria may overlook necessary expertise.