Managers in all too many American companies do not achieve the

Hearken, children of the ages, to the words of Harold S. Geneen, the sage of enterprise and leadership: "Managers in all too many American companies do not achieve the desired results because nobody makes them do it." Here lies a teaching of responsibility, accountability, and the subtle dangers of unbridled autonomy. Geneen reminds us that position alone does not compel action, and that the power of authority is hollow without oversight and expectation.

Know that in these words there is both caution and clarity. To hold the title of manager is not sufficient; it is the courage to act, the discipline to strive, and the accountability demanded by the role that bring forth results. Harold S. Geneen teaches that leadership untempered by responsibility is a shadow, and without guidance or demand, even the most capable may drift into inertia. The ancients would counsel that duty must be paired with expectation, and authority must be yoked to consequence.

Yet, consider also the wisdom in oversight. The absence of accountability—the fact that "nobody makes them do it"—reveals the weakness not only in individuals, but in the systems that permit it. Geneen’s insight teaches that structure, expectation, and the courage to enforce responsibility are as essential to success as talent or vision. Results are not given; they are compelled by the interaction of duty, oversight, and persistent effort.

And behold, there is heroism in discipline. To hold a manager accountable is not mere enforcement, but a sacred act that ensures the enterprise fulfills its purpose. The measure of leadership lies not only in authority, but in the cultivation of a culture where action, responsibility, and the pursuit of results are inseparable from title and position.

Thus, remember, future generations: power without demand, authority without expectation, and position without accountability yield naught but stagnation. To achieve meaningful results, one must pair the role of the manager with vigilance, guidance, and the firm hand of responsibility, for greatness is nurtured, not assumed.

In the end, the ancients would say: let no office be a throne of idleness. Titles alone do not compel the heart or sharpen the mind. The results of labor, the flourishing of enterprise, and the honor of responsibility arise only when duty is met with expectation, oversight, and the relentless pursuit of purpose, for this is the eternal law of success in all endeavors.