Leadership Leadership is of the spirit; compounded of person and vision; its practice is an art. Management is of the mind; more a matter of accountancy and method, timetables and routine; its practice is a science. Managers are necessary. Leaders are essential. Field Marshal Bill Slim A leader is best when people scarcely know he exists. Not so good when they kindly obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him. Fail to honour people, they fail to honour you. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done and his aim fulfilled, they will say: ‘We did this ourselves.’ Lao-Tzu (5th century B.C.) [Tao-Te Ching] Leadership appears to be the art of getting others to want to do something that you are convinced should be done. Vance Packard [The Pyramid Climbers] The primary motivation to become a leader should be the inner satisfaction that comes from giving of yourself to create, mould and nurture competence in a work group or organisation. The size of the accomplishment is not what is important. Rather, it is the creation of something of worth or value in this world. It could be as small as being a mentor for a promising young manager or as large as turning around an unprofitable company. On the other hand, when the quest for wealth, status or acclaim of others supersedes the inner satisfaction motive, a failure of leadership inevitably follows. Fred Manske People whose talents are not exploited become disenchanted and disruptive. The important thing is that managers must involve employees; lead employees. Sir Terence Conran Like excellence, leadership is a familiar concept but hard to define because it so complex... It is one of the most observed but least understood phenomena on earth. However, leaders need to be developed at every level of the organisation to provide organisation-enhancing innovation and change. Avoid training people in ‘leadership traits’ which sound like thay are taken from the Girl Scouts' Oath. Managers should identify those with an extra bit of ‘spark’ and help them move on beyond being contributors to become leaders. Gerald Egan Techniques don't produce quality products or pick up the garbage on time; people do, people who care, people who are treated as creatively contributing adults. Tom Peters Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will be defeated in every battle. Sun Tzu (500 B.C.) [The Art of War] Good leaders grow people, bad leaders stunt them; good leaders serve their followers, bad leaders enslave them. Sir Adrian Cadbury People do great things by focusing on their possibilities, not by dwelling on their limitations Henry Kissinger