Leadership Quotes for Business Leaders, Managers, Teams
Who Will You Lead?
"Only three things happen naturally in organizations: friction, confusion, and underperformance. Everything else requires leadership."
Peter Drucker
"A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them."
John C. Maxwell
"When opportunity presents itself, don't be afraid to go after it."
Eddie Kennison
"There's no shortage of remarkable ideas, whatâs missing is the will to execute them."
Seth Godin
"Great leaders lead from the front, counsel at your side, and when credit is received are standing in the back."
Written in 2014 by Tim Lajoie
It's a personal quote and I have never seen it anywhere else. I thought it might inspire people.
"Safety is based off science not feelings."
Written in 2003 by Chad Fava
It means a lot to safety leaders.
"Character is light to the dark world of evil. You set the pace, others follow."
Written in 2023 by Bassey Ndon
I selected this because of the need to be of good character wherever we are.
"Few things are more important during a change event than communication from leaders who can paint a clear and confidence-inspiring vision of the future."
Sarah Clayton
"Communicate unto the other person that which you would want him to communicate unto you if your positions were reversed."
Aaron Goldman
"Lead by example, insist on teamwork and instil motivation. Self-discipline is what gets you to work every day, and hard work builds character."
Dave Mueller
"Your words and deeds must match if you expect employees to trust in your leadership."
Kevin Kruse
"Perfectionism is the adversary of accomplishment."
Written in 2018 by Craig Dresang --- California
I have found this quote useful in helping leadership teams make decisions. To encourage teams to stop processing issues indefinitely, but to make a decision.
"Everyone must work to live, but the purpose of life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others."
Albert Schweitzer
"Truth is like cream in the milk; does not matter how much you stir it, it will always rise to the top."
Written in 2020 by Bubby Bains --- Australia
"True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up."
Sheri L. Dew
"In the Engineering of Robotics, there is such a thing as 'degree of freedom' but shame on those humans who under their watch, a Robot can be said to enjoy a better democracy of freedom than those they lead."
Written in 2020 by Chidi S. Edi --- Nigeria
"Take yourself out of the picture. Get in the habit of asking what's best for the team. For example, the next time you are at a problem-solving meeting and everyone is contributing ideas, instead of promoting yourself, ask yourself how the team would do if you were not involved in the solution. If it would do better, then propose ideas that promote and involve people other than yourself."
John Maxwell
"Good leaders aspire to help their followers reach their potential, even if that potential exceeds their own."
Written in 2019 by Tim Lajoie --- Maine
It is a philosophy I use myself.
"Deal with a hitch before it becomes an imbroglio."
Written in 2022 by Moeketsi Moela --- South Africa
Why did you select this quote?: I selected that quote to motivate other people to deal with problems at earliest stages before they escalate to a big unsolvable problem.
"There's no 'I' in the word Leader."
Written in 2021 by Garris Wayne Walker --- Texas
Growth for a company. And becoming a leader.
"A Leader is one, who PERFORMS, REFORMS, and TRANSFORMS his society."
Written in 2016 by Jonah Takon --- Nigeria
It is very inspiring, most importantly, for some African leaders who do not know the aspects of governance.
"Leadership is the ability to get extraordinary achievement from ordinary people."
Brian Tracy
"The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action - an unconventional business strategy, a unique product-development roadmap, a controversial marketing campaign - even as the rest of the world wonders why you're not marching in step with the status quo. In other words, real leaders are happy to zig while others zag. They understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special."
Bill Taylor, from article "Do You Pass the Leadership Test?"
"Leadership is inspiring others to pursue your vision within the parameters you set, to the extent that it becomes a shared effort, a shared vision, and a shared success."
Steve Zeitchik, CEO of Focal Point Strategies
"Everyone leads! Leadership is action, not position."
Donald H. McGannon
"A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are."
Ara Parashegian
"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
"When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective."
Stephen R. Covey
"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."
Amy Poehler
"Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work."
Seth Godin
"The chief trick to making good mistakes is not to hide them --- especially not from yourself."
Daniel Dennett --- Submitted by Harry H. Bornstein --- Rhode Island
"Diplomacy is the art of putting your foot down without stepping on anybody's toes."
Franklin P. Jones
"The leader has to be practical and a realist yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist."
Eric Hoffer
"I motivate players through communication, being honest with them, having them respect and appreciate your ability and your help."
Tommy Lasorda
"Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
"There are moments that define a generation. In this moment of our history, the Power of Leadership, built on the timeless values of Integrity, Courage and Selflessness, is what defines Youth Leadership."
Written in 2021 by Edem Agbana --- GH
It inspires me a lot.
"The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions."
John Hancock
"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."
Norman Vincent Peale
"Integrity Is The Most Valuable And Respected Quality Of Leadership. Always Keep Your Word."
Brian Tracy
"No amount of talents, skills or charisma can sustain us the way integrity, character & attitude does."
Sidney Mohede --- Submitted by Shoeb
"If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem!"
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Taiwo Saheed Abiodun --- Nigeria
I selected this because it inspires everybody to always be ready for the solution to any social, political, leadership and societal problems.
"The ways in which we disagree with one another helps define one's leadership and one's humanity."
Written in 2021 by Dr. Glen Sharpe --- ON, Canada
"I want you to understand that your first duty is to humanity. I want others to look at us and see that we care not just about ourselves but about others."
Madam C.J. Walker --- Submitted by George Wachirah --- Kenya
"When speaking to others, I learned years ago that it's not about me and it's not about you. It's all about others! Encourage others to appreciate the day; a day we've never seen before. Inspire them to look forward to another day, and another. Do it every day and DO IT BIG!!!"
Written in 2019 by Jimmy Hagewood --- Alabama
"Your true character is most transparent when placed in a position of power."
Written in 2019 by Brian G. Jett --- Kentucky
"My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team."
Don Shula
"A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at."
Bruce Lee
"Begin the week with momentum and you'll look back with great satisfaction on all you achieved."
Skip Prichard
"In selling, the best commodity that you can sell is YOURSELF, while the most expensive thing is HONESTY, and the only accepted currency is TRUST."
Written in 2014 by Gigs Gasper --- California
