Useful Leadership Quotes? – You Decide
Today’s world appreciates brevity.
Useful leadership quotes inspire, distill, or direct, quickly.
Will you bring your perspective and insights to this set of leadership quotes? Grab one or more and expand, correct, or modify it?
17 leadership quotes for you to play with:
- Great leaders don’t change people. They create environments where people can change themselves.
- You matter most when you make others matter. From: How to Start Right and End Well
- Great leadership includes leading people to self-discovery.
- Be predictable but reject conformity.
- Systems don’t complete projects people do.
- Conformity never inspires. From: 5 Surprising ways to Inspire Others
- Stop pretending you want change when in reality you want comfort.
- If you want to transform an organization, grow new leaders.
- The question that frees you isn’t what should I do, it’s what should I stop. From: Over Commit to One Thing
- Believe in those who believe in you.
- Leaders believe in others.
- If you can see the finish line it’s time to start again.
- If you aren’t learning you’re losing.
- Things that don’t make sense have more potential than things that do.
- Leaders give people permission to make a difference.
- Love gives meaning and worth to everything you do. From: From Low Impact to High Impact Leadership
- Opportunities hide in unmet needs.
Next level challenge:
Give feet to a quote by developing a set of hot-to’s. For example: Be predictable but reject conformity.
Be predictable:
- Treat everyone with equity; reject favoritism.
- Avoid flying off the handle.
- Think before you speak.
- Adopt and consistently observe policies and procedures.
- Prepare people for change.
Reject conformity:
- Invite outsiders in.
- Generate more than one solution.
- Predictably ask, “Why not?”
- Challenge inefficiencies.
- Eagerly explore new ideas. Say yes as much as possible.
**********
Which quotes speak to you? Modifications?
What how-to’s can you add to a quote?
Good morning Dan, great idea about the quotes. This early several come to mind but in keeping with our local breezy weather here goes and I am not sure it is a direct quote but the concept is there for the most part.
“The same wind blows for us all but the direction of the wind of opportunity is set by our sails.”
1) You can dress them up but challenges affect everyone.
2) We all have moments when we have trouble seeing in front of us.
3) The congregation can hear the same sermon and feel a personal message.
1) Our words and our actions set the course but our Vision determines destination.
2) Listening to the thoughts of our teams helps us lead them.
3) It is not enough to teach others to build. We must strive to inspire them to be architects.
4) Every masterpiece begins with an idea.
5) To reach the promise land we must leave the shore.
and finally: Adversity comes in many different flavors and it is the job of leadership to make them palatable.
Cheers and have a great day Dan
Thanks Al, love the analogy of wind and sails. It’s on my thinking whiteboard.
Al, your sailing quote might have been inspired by one of my favorite inspirational poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and one I put on the screen in almost every workshop where it’s appropriate:
One ship drives east, and another west.
With the self-same winds that blow:
‘Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales,
Which decides the way we go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As they voyage along through life;
‘Tis the will of the soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
🙂
WOW, what an incredible poem. I love it. Thanks so much for sharing. I can clearly see the inspiration but frankly don’t remember the author offhand. This poem is going up at my next quarterly staff meeting. Best, Al
Al, Mark, thank you. Really good stuff.
Jim
You are very welcome, Jim…
I hate to be redundant Al, but I agree with Greg and Mark… love it.
It my pleasure to read your comments,
Dan
I love to be redundant Al, when there something excellent in the winds…so thanks for the sailing analogy, very visual…watch out for the reefs, sharks, & whirlpools…oh my!
Adversity and opportunity-two sides of the same coin?
Well, you asked. Fun to re-write these with my “modifications.”
Won’t add “how-tos” for the sake of brevity, but do include that in my workshops, LOL…
-Great leaders don’t change people, *they create compelling perspectives*, then people change themselves.
-You matter most *to others*, when you make those others matter.
(You should always matter to yourself)
-*A symptom of great leadership is mutual* self-discovery.
-*There’s a benefit to having some* predictability, *but challenge* conformity.
-Systems don’t complete projects people do (no changes).
-Conformity never inspires. (no changes) From: 5 Surprising ways to Inspire Others
-Stop pretending you want change when in reality *you want joy; change happens on the way to pursuing our desires.*
-If you want to transform an organization, *encourage* a fresh, new perspective in its new leaders.
-Believe *in everyone*.
-Leaders believe in others. (no changes).
-If you can see the finish line it’s time to start again (no changes).
-If you aren’t learning, *you’re not paying attention.*
.
-*Look closely*—things that don’t make sense have more *may have* more potential than things that do.
-Leaders *help others feel permitted* to make a difference.
-Love and *self-value* give meaning and worth to everything we do.
-Opportunities hide in *every desire*.
That was a fun exercise in examining some of my own thinking on these ideas. Thanks, Dan 🙂
It’s interesting to think about why Dan and his sources would phrase things the way they did, and how your modifications change or enhance the meanings. Thanks for putting your spin on it.
Greg, thanks. You know, I hope everyone who reads along understands that I was having fun here, by invitation, and that these re-phrasings are only expressions of my own preferences. 🙂
Absolutely love your contribution..
“Believe in everyone” made me smile and chuckle. Love it and struggle with it. That’s what a great quote can do.
Honored by your participation,
Dan
-*Look closely*—things that don’t make sense have more *may have* more potential than things that do.
This resonates with me so much. How many times do we come across things that might not make sense but we know in our hearts it is “the right thing to do.” This one is the quote book. Thanks, Mark.
Lot of thought-provokers here, Dan. I like a lot of them, but I’ll zero in on “If you aren’t learning, you’re losing.” Continuous learning is critical for leaders for three reasons:
1. In this information age, current thought changes daily.
2. Knowledge atrophies quickly. Since we fall into ruts in our thinking, we need to refresh what we know periodically.
3. You can’t lead if you don’t know what the future holds.
How Tos:
1) Keep up on the news (internet, dead-tree version, radio) and then do a little research on an item that either is new to you or impacts you.
2) TED – if you haven’t discovered it yet, Google it. Wonderful way to expose yourself to new ideas.
3) Read those journals you subscribe to.
4) Read and comment in blogs.
I’ll leave you with a couple of quotes I like, although I apologize that I’m not in a position to look up the attribution(If anyone wants to know, I will when I get back to my office):
“The only true form of leadership is thought leadership.”
“Leaders are readers.”
Hi Greg,
Two thumbs up for TED. Thanks for mentioning that resource.
I think John Maxwell is behind “Leaders are Learners”
You always give us useful ideas,
Dan
Greg, I actually have a TED app on my iPhone and iPad, and I’m sure there’s an analog for the Droid crowd! It’s a great app to have!
Beat me to the continuous learning Greg, nice job! If you are not growing (learning) then you are dying.
Another thumbs up for TED, have it pinned on my browser so I can go to it whenever I have 5-10 minutes. Probably have a whole nother blog on top TED vides…
There are times when I miss the dead-tree versions (loved that update), less so lately…
Hi Greg, glad you mentioned TED since I am most definitely a TED addict and religiously watch every one I come across. I have never found one where I did not discover and learned something new. “leaders are readers” no argument here and like you correctly alluded it is not just reading books and articles but reading situations, people, engaging in blogs and proactively seeking knowledge from wherever it comes.
Nice work, Greg. TED is one of the places I go just to wonder through, to stop, to taste, to touch, to cultivate. Awesome!
Jim
# 14 Things that don’t make sense have more potential than things that do.
This plays into an age-old phrase: If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. If something makes sense, it isn’t likely broken, so no one will pay any attention to it and attempt to fix it. Something that makes no sense at all has much more potential because people will try to fix it and make it make sense, they will toy with it until they generate so many ideas that one of them has to work- causing the issue to make sense.
People generally ignore things that work effectively, a good leader must inspire them to look even at things that work and imagine if there was a better way for it to work. Then, they will pay attention to all aspects of all things (systems) and be creative finding new ways to operate them.
“Smooth operations are stagnant operations” ???
“Things that work roadblock innovation” ????
“If it ain’t broke… BREAK it” ????
Thanks for adding value.
Best,
Dan
What makes sense today, may not tomorrow.
What works today may be obsolete tomorrow…or later today.
One might suggest that just because it works, it does not mean it works as effectively as it could.
I have one that I often use to evaluate my decisions and actions: “Don’t let yourself be the motivation.” Leading others with the motivation of personal gain will nullify any and all techniques you are using to “lead”. It is just a matter of time before you are discovered…
Bjorn,
I love this type of quote that pushes at accepted ideas and bring home an important point.
Thank you for contributing,
Dan
Bjorn, your quote is going on my bulletin board. Thanks.
7. Stop pretending you want change when in reality you want comfort.
My version of this one is:
7. Stop driving into the future looking in the rear view mirror.
Glad to see you are hitting on all cylinders Dan.
Hahaha… Jim, I like your version, and just sent your quote, with attribution, to my daughter. 🙂
Hi Jim,
You made me laugh with approval… thank you sir.
Best,
Dan
Jim, your quote is awesome. It reminds me of the truism that the Army tends to train to fight the last war, and how true that is in business too. Thanks.
15. Leaders give people permission to make a difference.
PAR for the course:
Leaders open peoples minds to see they have Permission to lead and make a differrence.
Leaders open peoples hands to see they have Ability to lead and make a diference.
Leaders open peoples hearts to see they have Responsibility to lead and make a difference.
Cybuhr,
Love how you create punch by using context. Beautiful…
Minds…Hands…Hearts…
Thank you for sharing your insights,
Dan
“Believe in those who believe in you.”
This is so cyclical and eye-for-an-eye that it might not be the best quote to live by, so I like mpetruzzi’s “Believe in everyone.” This idea of belief in others is near and dear to my heart at the moment as an aspiring leader who is currently at the bottom of the totem pole where I work.
So I have some how-tos for people looking to embrace this idea:
1. Believe in yourself.
2. Believe in the people you hire.
3. Create an environment of positivity.
4. Assume the best of your employees.
5. Check-in often and especially if morale is flagging.
6. Don’t accuse until you have a reason.
7. Assign challenges and trust big tasks will get done.
8. Strive for empathy; acknowledge and try to understand deeper causes.
Thank you, Ellen. I like your list, and I think that we can smile at “believe in everyone” because it resonates with our best selves, even though, as Dan admitted, and I will too, we sometimes struggle with fulfilling that promise. 🙂
Ellen,
Absolutely wonderful, thank you.
It’s interesting to see how short quotes can be taken one of several ways, depending on the reader.
A quote has my intent and the readers meaning..
Thank you for leaving 8 great points…”Create an environment of positivity is on my radar these days. It’s not hard it just takes persistence.
I’m thankful you took time to share your insights,
Dan
Dan:
Great reminders. The quotes are filled with great truths.
Nice post.
John
Thanks for stopping in my friend. A good word is a thing of beauty. Cheers, Dan
7. Stop pretending you want change when in reality you want comfort.
My version: Change happens. You can be its victim or its partner. The choice is yours.
How to be a victim of change:
1. Sigh a lot.
2. Start lots of sentences with “If only . . .”
3. Erect a mental shrine to how it used to be.
4. Practice selective listening and tune out what’s uncomfortable.
5. Take yourself very seriously.
How to be a partner of change:
1. Laugh a lot.
2. Start lots of sentences with “What if. . . ”
3. Try on different perspectives until you find one that resonates. Create from there.
4. Listen to other people, the news, the culture, and everything around you. Learn from it. Create from it.
5. Take yourself lightly.
Jeanny,
B…B…..B….Brilliant. Thanks you!
Love your version.
I just got off the phone with John Bell, former CEO. He mentioned the importance of fun… laugh… lighten up… Wonderful stuff.
Best to you,
Dan
Jeanny, your post really shouts at me 1 With your permission and blessing I plan to use your victim/ partner contrast at our upcoming Board meeting. thank you for sharing.
Alfonso, by all means use it. I did a blog post using that contrast several months ago. In case it would be helpful, it’s here: http://discoverandthrive.com/2011/05/from-if-only-to-what-if-changing-the-dream/
Dan, seems as though you’re really back in the swing of things. Here’s a quotation that I’ve always valued: “The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else to do in the universe.” Galileo
My kids gave me a plaque with that quote on it. Have it on my desk. Love it, and looking at it often grounds me before I go into any “I’m so busy” self-talk, LOL…
Annie,
Thanks for a quote that brought Mark out of his shell. 😉
I thought Mark had a big ego…but thats just too much. 🙂
Great quote by the way…
Cheers,
Dan
PS I’m having too much fun
Ha ha… what, you never feel like you’re too busy? I might have taken more care with that reply. Too funny.
The quote is both humbling and inspirational, for sure. It reminds me to take a look at what I have accomplished, and am able to accomplish, rather than what I haven’t. It reminds me that I can always make time for the important things. It reminds me that my charge is relatively minuscule compared to having planets revolve around me, and, that the ripening of a single grape is miraculous, and any chance to make a contribution to the expansion of another, or myself, is gift. 🙂
Right On, Mark
Ditto Mark, you humble me with your comment bringing joy and a smile to a long day. Thank you for reminding us to be grateful for what we do and not dwell on what we didn’t. 🙂
I laughed, I cried, it’s an epic blog…two thumbs up!
Dan really hit a rich vein today, so many nuggets, so little time!
With props to Greg, what if we do a verb substitution? Take any of the verbs in Dan’s list and substitute ‘learn’ Ex: You learn most when others learn. Conformity never learns. Learn before you speak.-no easy task (a few don’t work)
And if you substitute ‘with’ for the ‘in’ or ‘to’, you get some different spins.
Hey Doc,
I hate to say it but I have 6 more pages of quotes. I think I’m going to post one a week…
The whole verb substitution thing is amazing.
Speaking of clever expressions… vein/nuggets … as always 🙂
I should learn I can never keep up with you,
Dan
Hey Dan don’t feel bad, we are only mortals and he is after all the real “Doc!” Ok so what if I now own dictionaries in different languages to keep up with the “lingua franca” of our esteemed colleague. 🙂
Dear Dan,
I would like to add two quotes: Unlearn and please. Leaders unlearn unhealhy practices or habits. This makes them to learn new practices. So, leadership is journey of unlearning. The more you unlearn, the more you learn new things. Second quote is : Dont either seek or harbour pleaser. Pleaser paralyses people and orgnisations. So, Any leaders surrounded by pleasers is actually not leader but misleader or manipulator. He or she has his own hidden agenda that is why he wants to have pleasers.
Leaders have strong sense of conviction. Conviction determines direction. More the conviction, clear the direction.
so, leadership is all about strong conviction and determination.
If it ain’t broke …. break it!
Give someone a job to do
Some people like to fix it
with a screwdriver and some glue.
Make sure they see the problem
And give them concise Rules
For fixing thing is a conundrum
And best avoided by fools!
John Foss
Who teaches through poetry and mistakes!
Great leaders don’t change people, but poor leaders will waste a lot of time trying.
“You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything” – unknown source but John Maxwell uses often in his books.
I like this concept and I’ve used it as the basis for a number of articles. This has been the most popular one.
Lao Tzu – “Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime”
Back in ancient Chinese times, sometime between the 4th and 6th century BC, Lao Tzu was the founder of taoism, the mystical ‘way’ or ‘path’ that many have followed since.
And with him came the many sayings for which he is renowned.
One of the best known is the one quoted above, “Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime”, which has a wonderful analogy with the modern world of management today.
The metaphor of feeding someone and that sufficing to get them through one day, and one day alone shows that people can only be helped so far. If we help them and do things for them all the time, then they rely on us, which is not only unhealthy for their development of skills, but also potentially dangerous, if we are not there to help them one day, their very future is at risk.
The principle whereby we rely totally on the support, guidance and even nurturing of someone else, for too long a period, is typical of many modern management environments. The old-style ‘command and control’ management processes lead to employees only being required or even able to do what they were told, which puts great pressure on those doing the telling.
Not only that, but where employees are not provided with stimulating work and aren’t asked to challenge themselves mentally, this often leads to demotivation and then higher absence rates, as well as employee turnover that such boredom precipitates.
Lack of stimulation=boredom=frustration=leave to find something else.
Let’s look at the flip side, where we ‘teach a man to fish’. Not only does the man become self-sufficient and be able to survive without being provided for, but he has a sense of achievement and fulfillment. How good does an angler feel as he pulls a fish from the water?
Much better than when one is placed generously in front of him, merely to eat. Sure it may be good, for a while, to be provided for, but human psyche is bigger than that in a healthy human being. People need to be valued for who they are.
So – we ‘teach them to fish’. In the workplace, by teaching out people new skills, we validate them for who they are and the contribution they are able to make. They know they are useful and valued and with this confidence they do more. They learn that to stretch themselves is good. That they have within themselves untapped resources which show off the potential they have always had, now released.
Indeed ‘teaching them to fish’ realizes not just the material potential they have, but catalyses even bigger capabilities in them. Their development muscle has been stretched and exercised, so it becomes bigger and more capable.
The business upside for ‘teaching our people to fish’? Well, managers are able to offload some of their tactical workload to others who relish the opportunity. This frees managers to do more with more of their people.
A workplace environment that becomes the breeding ground for capable, committed and excited employees, straining at the leash to do more. Managers enable their business to become a developmental mixing bowl of ideas and capability like nothing before.
In a business world where the embodiment of excellent management is an operation that works at least as well (and sometimes better!), when the manager is absent is to be acknowledged as the purest quality.
And with that level of capability developed, all because the manager taught his people ‘how to fish’, business thrives.
How Lao Tzu would smile if he saw how his little saying was as important, in the hurly-burly of the business world today, as it was all those years ago!
So many good thoughts, reminders, additions. Mine is brief and comes from my friend, Richard Smith, who describes himself as a depth educator.
“Leadership is a by-product of relationship. Influence is the currency of relationship.”
Peace…Jim
Dan,
First of all, I love the picture!
Here are the quotes that speak the most to me:
2. You matter most when you make others matter.
11. Leaders believe in others.
16. Love gives meaning and worth to everything you do.
You tweeted this one a few minutes ago, which brought me back here:
“Believe in those who believe in you.”
I would say that it’s the also job of a leader to believe in those who don’t believe in you.
People may not believe in me for all kinds of reasons. I may have lost their trust by something stupid I did. They may be battle-scarred and not trust my leadership for reasons of their own that have absolutely nothing to do with me. They may not believe in themselves yet enough to believe in anyone else.
As a leader, it’s my job to hold their brilliance and magnificence even when they don’t or can’t yet.
Thanks for the sagely advice. One of my favorite fortune cookie leadership lessons is “never turn down the chance to do hard work early.”
Ryan Hale – leadertainment.com