When the people have to manage dangers from inside the organization, the organization itself becomes less able to face the dangers from outside.
I know of no case study in history that describes an organization that has been managed out of a crisis. Every single one of them was led.
Leadership is a way of thinking, a way of acting and, most importantly, a way of communicating.
You’ll never see the president carry his own luggage, and why? Because even though we know he has luggage, it would reduce his stature if he was too much like us. We need to think of our leaders as being above us, even though they must still relate to us.
People will do as they are told by someone who outranks them, but they will only follow someone they believe in.
A leader’s job is not just to get the best out of their people-a leader’s job is to make more leaders.
When you compete against everyone else, no one wants to help you. But when you compete against yourself, everyone wants to help you.
The hardest part is starting. Once you get that out of the way, you’ll find the rest of the journey much easier.
When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.
It is better to disappoint people with the truth than to appease them with a lie.
The quality of a leader cannot be judged by the answers he gives, but by the questions he asks.
There is a difference between listening and waiting for your turn to speak.
Authorities act with themselves in mind. Leaders act with others in mind. Authorities take. Leaders give. Authorities die. Leaders live on.
Words may inspire but only action creates change.
If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood, sweat, and tears.
Always plan for the fact that no plan ever goes according to plan.
Bad leaders believe that they have to project control at all times.
Great leaders don’t need to act tough. Their confidence and humility serve to underscore their toughness.
When we help ourselves, we find moments of happiness. When we help others, we find lasting fulfillment.
When we point to obstacles we inhibit progress. When we offer solutions we advance.