The feeling that you can do the job better yourself makes delegation difficult. But I've been a more effective leader when others have actually done the work.
Donald Seibert
Donald Seibert has seen the inside workings of not only churches but high-pressure corporations. As chairman and chief executive officer at J. C. Penney, he gained a reputation as an effective organizer and peacemaker. And in peace, the company prospered.
In 1981, a year when most retailers were taking their lumps, Penney's earnings rose 44 percent on a mere 4.5 percent increase in sales. What was the secret? Business Week pointed to a new management style "keyed to group decision making … consensus management."
Seibert, architect of that new atmosphere, is now retired, but his philosophy remains unchanged: develop a team that can continue without a hitch when key individuals leave.
Seibert was vice-president for the White House Council on Families during the Carter years and has served on the Advisory Council for Productivity ...
You have reached the end of this Article Preview
Support our work
Subscribe to CT and get one year free
