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The 14 Essential Qualities of an Executive – in 1922.

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Professional Engineer Magazine recently referenced this 1922 chart “Essential Qualities of an Executive.”

For starters, some of the words here definitely sound odd to us in 2013 – e.g. does anyone still use the word ‘industry’ to describe perseverance? Also, an exhaustive online search yielded not one definition for ‘domination of will’ but it sounds kind of scary. Maybe they meant ‘persuasiveness’. But weird words notwithstanding, the importance of exhibiting the above listed qualities in the workplace still rings true — even 90+ years later. One thing that has changed since 1922 is that these qualities are now required of all professionals, not just executives.

It’s fun to consider the list and reflect on how we think we stack up to it as individuals. For services companies and consultants, it’s even more important to understand how your entire organization stands this test of quality. Whether you’re a product design firm, law firm or a cleaning company, if your products are your people and the services they provide, then these qualities must always be evident individually and collectively. AtIPS we continually hold ourselves to these standards in our behavior towards each other and towards everyone we encounter outside the company.

In 1922, the Professional Engineers were encouraged to ‘Study this table for suggestions’.  How do you and your company strive to maintain these “Essential Qualities”?

  • in reply to johnbeetem

    Hi John,

     

    Yes, I think being a school Marm in those days put you just a few steps above being a saloon dancer.

     

    It is amazing the disdain people hold educators in our country, and apparently elsewhere.

    These are the people we allow to raise and train each generation.  They should get a bit more respect for shaping our youth.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

    DAB wrote:

     

    Makes you wonder what the school board was thinking thought.

    Oh, I think it's pretty clear what the school board was thinking about -- bunch of dirty-minded beasts!

     

    They were probably imagining a school-teacher behaving like Mae West in My Little Chickadee (1940).  Yes, I realize that they wouldn't have seen the film in 1915, but My Little Chickadee takes place in the late 19th Century, in the USA Old West.  My favorite scene is when the school marm is having a panic attack because she can't deal with the hormone-crazed teen-age farm boys in her class.  Mae West as Flower Belle Lee steps is as substitute teacher.  The lesson is arithmetic, something Flower Belle Lee doesn't know anything about.  However, she knows a whole lot about hormone-crazed teen-age boys and handles them brilliantly.

     

    Great film.  The interaction between Mae West and W.C. Fields is just wonderful (they co-wrote it).  Great supporting part by Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz) as the town's chief busy-body.

  • in reply to mcb1

    Its a wonder that anyone in NZ is literate given the harsh conditions that the teachers had to follow.

     

    Makes you wonder what the school board was thinking thought.

     

    DAB

  • the importance of exhibiting the above listed qualities in the workplace still rings true — even 90+ years later.

    Sadly about the only one of those that current executives seem to exhibit is 'Perseverence' with failed decisions. The one that's missing is 'keep Wall Street happy, even if that means running the company into the ground'.

     

    Judgement, Initiative, Integrity are typically lacking nowadays.

     

    @DAB is spot on with management by walking around though, get them out of their ivory towers and finding out what's really going on image

  • in reply to DAB

    This was something we ran across in our travels in NZ


    Rules for teachers 1915

    1. You may not marry during the term of your contract.
    2. You are not to keep company with men.
    3. You must be home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless attending a school function.
    4. You may not loiter downtown in ice-cream stores.
    5. You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have permission of the Chairman of the Board.
    6. You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless he is your father or brother.
    7. You may not smoke cigarettes.
    8. You may not dress in bright colours.
    9. You may not under no circumstances dye your hair.
    10. You must wear at least two petticoats.
    11. Your dress must not be shorter than two inches above the ankle.
    12. To keep the school room neat and clean you must
    • sweep the floor at least once daily
    • scrub the floor at least once weekly with hot soapy water
    • clean the blackboards at least once a day
    • start the fire at 7 a.m. so the room will be warm by 8 a.m.



    Mark