Quotes About Leadership

He learned and heard many things about the San Francisco Fire Department from powerful people who forgot he was present—including a lot of dirt—that helped him become an effective leader in a long battle against discrimination in the department.

The survival lesson from studies and stories on backstage regions is that, to reduce your exposure and to recharge your defenses, it helps to find—and if necessary, invent—asshole-free zones where you and others can take temporary refuge.

Refusal to accept blame, pointing fingers at others, and wimpy language can help bosses keep their jobs for a while, but it usually backfires in the long run. No matter what is said, bosses are seen as responsible for what their people do.

The women—who kept careful tallies—informed the CEO he had interrupted each of them at least six times but never interrupted the four male executive vice presidents. Stunned and embarrassed, the CEO begged for forgiveness, asked them to keep tracking his interruptions, and vowed to halt his sexist ways.

After a while, he and others tried a different approach, where they were out in the open and had more casual exchanges and there were fewer barriers. Tim emphasized that his job was "to get to know the people and how they work" and, he said, "I can't learn much sitting in a private office.

And some of the worst add an extra twist: they take perverse pleasure in insisting that project managers like her commit to timetables and budgets that are impossible to meet—and then berate and bad-mouth them when the project begins to fail, even when the project manager had warned them that their goals were impossible to achieve (and the client insisted on charging forward despite the expert advice).

I find that if you take the opportunity to throw out a subtle reminder of the core values we are required to adhere to, the a**hole quickly backs up, swallows the words, and rethinks the tactic.

Paul Goodman commented that "Few great men could pass personnel.

William Coyne, former head of research and development at 3M, tells how a human resource manager once threatened to fire a scientist who was asleep under his bench. Coyne took the HR manager to 3M's "Wall of Patents" to show him that the sleeping scientist had developed some of 3M's most profitable products. Coyne advised, "Next time you see him asleep, get him a pillow."3 Unfortunately, not all executives are so wise.

Other studies suggest that some people are grumpy, insulting, or overbearing primarily because they are insecure about their abilities and prestige. This is a hallmark of petty tyrants, which

When big organizations scale well, they focus on "moving a thousand people forward a foot at a time, rather than moving one person forward by a thousand feet.

If you want to find out what a man is to the bottom, give him power. Any man can stand adversity — only a great man can stand prosperity. It is the glory of Abraham Lincoln that he never abused power only on the side of mercy

Developing leaders who can navigate complexity is now a strategic priority—and, if done well, a competitive advantage. Beyond developing competency and capability, we need to develop leaders with courage and compassion, consciousness and character.

Leadership that is not well-grounded in followership—following Jesus—is dangerous to both the church and the world.41

that in all things He may have the preeminence. – Colossians 1:18

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

Grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ. – Ephesians 4:15

I had rather get ten men to work than to do the work of ten men. —D. L. Moody2

Deborah's song in Judges 5. Then we come to

Wherever you send us we will go. – Joshua 1:16

So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. – Luke 5:11

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. – Acts 13:3

Our ability to influence the world is directly proportional to our knack for managing our own lives

These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. – Revelation 14:4