Advantage Quote by Henry Mintzberg
“An unsuccessful manager blames failure on his obligations; the effective manager turns them to his own advantage. A speech is a chance to lobby...a visit to an important customer a chance to extract trade information.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning, 1994
Effective managers turn obligations into advantages, using speeches and visits to gather strategic information.
In simple terms: Turn constraints into opportunities.
Key Takeaway
Leverage obligations strategically.
Themes
management
strategy
communication
Mood
analytical
strategic
Type
theory
practice
When to use this quote
- business meetings
- public speaking
- client visits
Key Concepts
resourcefulness
information gathering
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How can managers identify hidden opportunities?
- What ethical lines exist in extracting information?
A Different Perspective
Obligations may still limit flexibility.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
