Ladies and gentlemen Quote by Sam Manekshaw
““What is the next thing you need for leadership? It is the ability to make up your mind to make a decision and accept full responsibility for that decision. Have you ever wondered why people do not make a decision? The answer is quite simple. It is because they lack professional competence, or they are worried that their decision may be wrong and they will have to carry the can. Ladies and Gentlemen, according to the law of averages, if you take ten decisions, five ought to be right. If you have professional knowledge and professional competence, nine will be right, and the one that might not be correct will probably be put right by a subordinate officer or a colleague. But if you do not take a decision, you are doing something wrong. An act of omission is much worse than an act of commission. An act of commission can be put right. An act of omission cannot.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Military leadership lecture, 1970
Effective leadership requires decisive action, responsibility, and competence; indecision is more harmful than a wrong decision.
In simple terms: Decide and own it.
Key Takeaway
Make decisions confidently and accept responsibility.
Themes
leadership
decision‑making
responsibility
Mood
analytical
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- military command
- project management
- personal life choices
Key Concepts
competence
risk management
accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you hesitated to decide?
- How do you balance risk and responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Decisions can be flawed; over‑confidence may lead to errors.
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