Admiral Hyman Rickover, on the Importance of Being an Individual, and Collaborative Problem Solving

Admiral Hyman Rickover, on the Importance of Being an Individual, and Collaborative Problem Solving ---

"The Quakers have an excellent approach to thinking through difficult problems, where a number of intelligent and responsible people must work together. They meet as equals, and anyone who has an idea speaks up. There are no parliamentary procedures and no coercion from the Chair. They continue the discussion until unanimity is reached. I want you guys to do that. Get in a room with no phones and leave orders that you are not to be disturbed. And sit there until you can deal with each other as individuals, not as spokesmen for either organization.

You know that answer to that, don’t you. You don’t need me to tell you.
Any one detail, followed through to its source, will usually reveal the general state of readiness of the whole organization.

I believe it is the duty of each of us to act as if the fate of the world depended on him. Admittedly, one man by himself cannot do the job. However, one man can make a difference... We must live for the future of the human race, and not for our own comfort or success.
Nature is not as forgiving as Christ.

One must create the ability in his staff to generate clear, forceful arguments for opposing viewpoints as well as for their own. Open discussions and disagreements must be encouraged, so that all sides of an issue are fully explored."