Rule #1: Responsibility
When Sir Bruce was a trainee surgeon, he asked his consultant:
“I clerk the patients. I operate. I manage them. I do everything. What will change when I become a consultant?”.
“The only thing that will change? You’ll have to start taking responsibility for other peoples’ mistakes”.
Rule #2: Credit
People squabble over credit in every field. In academia, management… etc.
Actually, you shouldn’t care about credit as a leader:
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Harry Truman
Rule #3: The Media
Many times, Sir Bruce was lambasted in the media. It was tempting to fight back. But—
You lose your arguments in public and win them in private.
Rule #4: Never Speak ill of your Colleagues
(Not sure about the story behind this one).
Rule #5: Vociferous Leaders
Outspoken/noisy leaders get headlines. Actually, some of the best leaders work quietly in the background. Don’t be distracted by the media’s propensity for the Donald Trumps of the world.