Top 15 Dee Hock Quotes

An illustration I use to get people to understand it is this: I’ll ask major corporate audiences: Why don’t you just take all your traditional beliefs about organizations, and apply them to the neurons in your brain?

Throughout history, it took centuries for the habits of one culture to materially affect another. Now, that which becomes popular in one country can sweep through others within months.

Think about technological float: it took centuries for the wheel to gain universal acceptance. Now any microchip device can be in use around the world in weeks.

Make another list of things done for you that you loved. Do them for others, always.

Preserve substance; modify form; know the difference.

The prudent course is to make an investment in learning, testing and understanding, determine how the new concepts compare to how you now operate and thoughtfully determine how they apply to what you want to achieve in the future.

Make a careful list of all things done to you that you abhorred. Don’t do them to others, ever.

With the advent of genetic engineering the time required for the evolution of new species may literally collapse.

Substance is enduring, form is ephemeral.

Every mind is a room packed with archaic furniture.

It is essential to employ, trust, and reward those whose perspective, ability, and judgment are radically different from yours. It is also rare, for it requires uncommon humility, tolerance, and wisdom.

Make an empty space in any corner of your mind, and creativity will instantly fill it.

Lead yourself, lead your superiors, lead your peers, and free your people to do the same. All else is trivia.

Experience is easy to provide and quickly put to good use by people with all the other qualities.

An organization, no matter how well designed, is only as good as the people who live and work in it.