Being a leadership coach, people often ask me what I believe is great leadership.
Because I think a good quote conveys a message much better then long explanations ever could, I’ve created a top 10 of inspirational quotes from the world’s greatest minds to answer that question.
In matters of style, swim with the current;
in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
— Thomas Jefferson
It is absurd that a man should rule others,
who cannot rule himself.
— Latin proverb
It’s horrible to see that so many people in leadership positions are held prison by their quirks and fears, taking it out on the people that work for them.
To be able to lead others, really means to be able to lead yourself first.
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
No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.
— Abraham Lincoln
You manage things, you lead people
— Grace Murray Hopper
A leader is fully aware of the fact that she’s working with people who have their own experiences, talents, fears and opinions. So to be able to get them to do things in a way that is remotely like what she aiming for, she’ll have to connect, inspire and engage them. This has absolutely nothing to do with shoving paper, targets or next month’s sale.
Leaders must be close enough to relate to others,
but far enough ahead to motivate them.
— John C. Maxwell
Isn’t it great that nobody needs to wait a single moment,
before starting to change the world.
— Anne Frank
This quote — in regards to leadership — means to me that great leaders are fully aware of the fact that they are in a position to change things for the better. This is not unique to leaders. As Anne says: we can all take steps to change the world. But you can not be a great leader when you don’t fully appreciate the fact that YOU can make ALL the difference. To one person or to many, but that’s depending on the situation.
Never allow a person to tell you no, who doesn’t have the power to say yes.
— Eleanor Roosevelt
Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself.
When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.
— Jack Welch
While helping others get better and find out what they’re really good at, you builds trust, connection and loyalty. It gives you the opportunity to groom your successor (so you can move up) and to get great results (because you’re not doing everything yourself, right?!).
It’s better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory. You take the front line when there is danger.
~ Nelson Mandela
That’s just not what great leaders — or great people — do.
I love quotes on leadership and personal growth.
On my business cards I even have five different ones. I let everyone pick their own card (from a blind deck), and I’m always curious what the quote they got means to them.
In this post, I’ve shared the quotes that resonate best with my view on leadership.
So tell me. What are your favorite quotes? Who has inspired you or changed your perspective on leadership?
Originally published at Huffington Post