Leader, Harry S. Truman

Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders must be readers.

- Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)

Most leaders have a strong sense of curiosity, and they develop and improve themselves through introspection. Furthermore leaders never stop learning new things in different ways. Books, which possess all of mankind’s wisdom, are the greatest teacher anyone can ever have; thus, leaders should never stop reading.

A true master, Neale Donald Walsch

A true master is not the one with the most students, but one who creates the most masters. A true leader is not the one with the most followers, but one who creates the most leaders.

- Neale Donald Walsch

Leadership is what makes results come to fruition, but a leader is only as good as the people working under him. If all the subordinates can take the initiative and become leaders themselves, they can all achieve outstanding results and maximize the efficiency of the entire workforce. Leadership begins with people developing their character and ends up educating their coworkers to become leaders themselves.

Leader, Peter Drucker

The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say “I.” And that’s not because they have trained themselves not to say “I.” They don’t think “I.” They think “we”; they think “team.” They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don’t sidestep it, but “we” gets the credit. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.

- Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005)

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There are people who prioritize themselves, then the team, and finally the company; on the other hand, there are people who prioritize the company and team over themselves. The leader who delivers results while earning the trust and respect of his peers is the latter.

Leader, Colin Luther Powell

Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying not to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally “nicely” regardless of their contributions, you’ll simply ensure that the only people you’ll wind up angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization.

- Colin Luther Powell (1937- )

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A leader needs to know how to take the blame. A cowardly leader who only wants appraisal and constantly needs to please everyone will ultimately lead the team to failure. When a team fails, the jobs and livelihood of the entire group are on the line, and so the leader must know how to take responsibility and take the blame.

Leader, Ben Zander

A conductor does not make a sound. He depends for his power on his ability to make other people powerful. As a leader your job is to awaken possibility in other people.

- Ben Zander (1939- )

Leaders are not assessed according to what they themselves do; they are evaluated according to how well their team works. Thus empowering, coaching and trusting subordinates to do the right thing are essential leadership qualities.

Leader·Leadership, David Gergen

A leader’s role is to raise people’s aspirations for what they can become, and to release their energies so they will try to get there.

- David Gergen (1942- )

Leader·Leadership, Russel H. Ewing

A boss creates fear, a leader confidence.
A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes.
A boss knows all, a leader asks questions.
A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting.
A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.

- Russel H. Ewing

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A person with high authority is called the boss. But status alone does not reflect leadership. A boss can only be called a leader when he displays vision, respect, responsibility and initiative; allows empowerment; emits a valuable influence; and competently directs change.