Leadership inspiration – from Harry Selfridge

 

Are you a Mr Selfridge fan? Are you pining, like me, for Series 3?

Googling, to discover if it was returning to ITV1* I came across this set of quotes from Harry Selfridge, founder of one of the most fabulous department stores in the world.

Vintage portrait.That guy really was ahead of his time as his new-style store sought to meet the needs of women wanting more freedom in their daily lives.

His approach to leadership is as relevant to today’s third sector managers and leaders as it was to Edwardian business owners hoping to emulate his success:

“The boss drives his people; the leader coaches them.”

“The boss depends on authority; the leader on goodwill.”

“The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm.”

“The boss says ‘I’; the leader, ‘we’.”

“The boss know how it is done; the leader shows how.”

“The boss says ‘Go’; the leader says ‘Let’s go’.

 

*It is! Roll on 2015.

Katie Duckworth helps third sector organisations support their managers to bring out the very best in their teams. If you’d like to talk to me about how I can support your managers, including through my new Manage like a leader e-course, give me a call on 0208 772 7808 or contact me here for a no-obligation chat.

 


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