Management Quote by Tom DeMarco
““In my early years as a developer, I was privileged to work on a project managed by Sharon Weinberg, later to become president of the Codd and Date Consulting Group. She was a walking example of much of what I now think of as enlightened management. One snowy day, I dragged myself out of a sickbed to pull together our shaky system for a user demo. Sharon came in and found me propped up at the console. She disappeared and came back a few minutes later with a container of soup. After she’d poured it into me and buoyed up my spirits, I asked her how she found time for such things with all the management work she had to do. She gave me her patented grin and said, “Tom, this is management.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mythical Man‑Month (1995) – anecdote
A manager's caring act, like offering soup, exemplifies true leadership.
In simple terms: Kindness defines leadership.
Key Takeaway
Show empathy to inspire teams.
Themes
leadership
empathy
support
Mood
reflective
encouraging
Type
leadership
inspirational
When to use this quote
- sick days
- project deadlines
- team morale
- crisis management
Key Concepts
servant leadership
psychological safety
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders consistently demonstrate empathy?
- What boundaries protect both manager and team?
A Different Perspective
Such gestures may be unsustainable if over‑relied upon.
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