The Rate of the Pack

The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack.

~Author unknown but greatly appreciated

Leaders and Bosses

The Boss drives his men;

The Leader coaches them.

The Boss depends on authority;

The Leader on good will.

The Boss inspires fear;

The Leader inspires enthusiasm.

The Boss says “I”;

The Leader says “We”.

The Boss assigns the tasks;

The Leader sets the pace.

The Boss says ”Get here on time”;

The Leader gets there ahead of time.

The Boss knows how it is done;

The Leader shows how it is done.

The Boss makes work a drudgery;

The Leader makes it a game.

The Boss says “Go”;

The Leader says “Lets go!”.

The world needs LEADERS,

but nobody wants a boss!

~Dora Dodge

A Leader Is Best...

A leader is best when people barely know he exists.  Not so good when people obey and acclaim him.  Worse when they despise him.  But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say "We did it ourselves."

~Lao-tzu

Are You A Sheep or a Lion?

I'm more afraid of any army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep.

~Talleygrand

Leadership and Vision

The very essence of leadership is that you have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.

~ Theodore Hesburgh

Thoughts on Leadership...

A man who want to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.

~James Crook

The Best Executive

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with thtem while they do it.

~Theodore Roosevelt

A Leader

A leader is best when people barely know he exists.  Not so good when people obey and acclaim him.  Worse when they despise him.  But, of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, "We did it ourselves."

~Lao-tzu

To Lead, Follow

To lead people, walk behind them.

~Lao-tzu

Eisenhower's Leadership Lessons

Among the many things that he was known for, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was known for being a great leader.  He has been quoted as saying "you do not lead by hitting people over the head--that's assault, not leadership". 

He used to demonstrate the art of leadership to his men by using a simple piece of string. He would gather a group to stand around a table.  He'd place a string on the table and lay it out straight.  Looking around the table at each of the men he would say to them  "pull the string and it will follow you where ever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all."

The lesson in this is to ask yourself, who are you pushing? Have you realized it isn't going anywhere for either of you? How can you change your interaction?