My Top 12 Favorite Quotes on Leadership

Sometimes when you listen to people who know what they're talking about, it can spark an insight that re-orients the way you think about the topic.

Whether you're a leader, an aspiring leader or someone who coaches leaders, sometimes a single thought can make a difference in how you approach the difficult challenge of getting people to give their best effort together in pursuit of a common goal.

These twelve people have influenced they way I think about leadership. And yes, they really know what they're talking about.

"Any committee is only as good as the most knowledgeable, determined and vigorous person on it. There must be somebody who provides the flame." - Lady Bird Johnson, American first lady (1912-2006)

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” - H. Norman Schwarzkopf, American general (1934- )

“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, American business leader (1918-1998)

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” - Jack Welch, American business leader (1935- )

"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant." - Max De Pree, American business leader (1924- )

“If anything goes bad, then I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it.” - Paul "Bear" Bryant, American college football coach (1913-1983)

"A leader's job is to remove any obstacle that can negatively impact his team's performance." - Mike Krzyzewski, American college basketball coach (1947- )

“I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than any other ability under the sun.” - John D. Rockefeller, American business leader (1839-1937)

"If you want to be a great leader, you've got to surround yourself with great people." - Lee Iacocca, American business leader (1924- )

"There is no more powerful leadership tool than your own personal example." - John Wooden, American college basketball coach (1910-2010)

"As a leader you should always start with where people are before you try to take them to where you want them to go." - Jim Rohn, American author (1930-2009)

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams, American president (1767-1848)

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2011. Building Personal Strength .