Do you scroll through Linkedin and seem to find majority of the articles shared are on leadership? It seems like in a world where there’s a distinct void of good leadership, in a time we need it more than ever, we are all preoccupied by the questions of what makes a good leader or how to become one.
There are those you are all too aware, no matter the degree or title, will never amount to more than a manager; then there are those, regardless of qualification or position, excel at leading and inspiring others. In order to see what real leadership takes, let’s turn to leaders and find out how they define leadership is.
My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character, which inspires confidence. — General Montgomery
Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. —Peter Drucker
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I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. —Ralph Nader
The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. —Theodore Roosevelt
You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case. —Ken Kesey
A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. —Rosalynn Carter
The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. —Kenneth Blanchard
Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish. —Sam Walton
A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. —Douglas MacArthur
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. —General Dwight Eisenhower
The leader has to be practical and a realist yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist. —Eric Hoffer
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Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems. —Brian Tracy
Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand. —General Colin Powell
It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. —Nelson Mandela
There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity and courage. —Fuchan Yuan
Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing. —Tom Peters
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