7 Quotes—7 Lessons
You can laugh (or at least smirk) and still walk away a little wiser. Here are seven leadership quotes. You decide if they’re funny or if they sting just enough to stick.
7 Quotes—7 Lessons
#1. “By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day.” — Robert Frost
Lesson: Some companies burn up managers. Check turnover before you sign up.
#2. “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile away… and you’ll have their shoes.”—Jack Handey from Saturday Night Live
Lesson: Understanding people is no joke. Leadership doesn’t start until other people are involved.
#3. “The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding a meeting.” — Thomas Sowell
Lesson: Leaders turn talk into action. Progress hinges on accountability.
#4. “Who needs a compass when you have a manager who takes you in circles?”—Unattributed
Lesson: Frantic indicates lack of direction. Don’t worry about slowing down until you decide what’s important.
#5. “Leadership is nature’s way of removing morons from the productive flow.” — Scott Adams
Lesson: Honor people who actually get things done.
#6. “I don’t get heart attacks, I give them.” —Anonymous
Lesson: Don’t ignore jerkholes even when they are top performers.
#7. “You look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” —Warren Buffett
Lesson: Know that people who cut corners end up burning you.
What’s your favorite leadership quote with a sting?
The 5 Most Important Leadership Quotes of All Time – with Personal Affirmations
26 Tough-Minded Leadership Quotes for Better Performance Conant Leadership
Good morning, Dan! Thank you for a great list to start the day! I have one I would like to add to the list as I keep this one on a sticky note on my monitor… The lesson is to challenge your team to grow… “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” —Ronald Reagan
Wonderful quote. It takes humility to do that. I want to do the great things!!!
“The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” — Edward John Phelps
Lesson: Encourage those around you to try something different.
Love it! Routines are powerful ways to maintain stability. But, the only way to craft something new is to change something. The hard part is change means something is going away.
Your #7 rings true in today’s global political moment.
The Buffet quote always makes me smile!
Always inspired!!!
Thanks, Barb.
Fun article today, Dan. Thanks.
When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that person is crazy. – Dave Barry
Lesson: A little crazy helps one think outside the box.
Thanks for adding this, Ryan. A little crazy is what it takes to enjoy this life.