Quotes about Leadership

Years ago, I used to tell new leaders I hired that every person in our organization walked around with two buckets. One bucket contained water, and the other gasoline. As leaders, they would continually come across small fires, and they could pour water or gasoline on a fire. It was their choice.

Only a leader who has followed well knows how to lead others well. Good leadership requires an understanding of the world that followers live in. Connecting with your people becomes possible because you have walked in their shoes. You know what it means to be under authority and thus have a better sense of how authority should be exercised. In contrast, leaders who have never followed well or submitted to authority tend to be prideful, unrealistic, rigid, and autocratic. "Civilization

Unless you want to carry the whole load yourself, you need to be developing leaders.

Real leaders have something to give, and they give it freely. Anthony DeMello saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he lifted his eyes to heaven and said, "God, how could you allow such suffering? Why don't you do something?" There was a long silence and then DeMello was startled when he heard the voice of God answer him, "I certainly have done something—I made you.

Model: Ezra committed himself first to study God's Word, then to practice it, then to communicate it to the rest of Israel.

If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, no matter how much or how little natural leadership talent you possess, you need to become a serving leader.

One of the most important things you can do as a leader is make sure you and your organization are delivering what you promised. The question I ask to make an assessment of this is "Did we exceed expectations?" This ensures my future success and that of my organization. The future is dim professionally for anyone who doesn't exceed the expectations of customers or clients.

Where Are You Holding Up Your Team? If you are not asking the members of your team how you can serve them, you may be holding them up. To find out, go to each team member individually and ask, "What could I do for you that would make your job easier, make you more successful, and make the team better?" Listen without interrupting to what people have to say, and then try to figure out ways to do what you can to serve them.

A leader with confidence is a leader who brings out positive changes in people.

People need your influence, but it will not come through 'lip syncing' those you admire.

you can care about people without leading them, but you cannot lead people well without caring about them.

Remind yourself that leadership is a privilege and responsibility more than anything else.