
As an author, the question, “May I quote you?” is a humbling request and a great compliment. For anyone who is in search of leadership excellence a good quote is fuel for you and your team.
It’s amazing how a short, simple quotation can quickly provide perspective, inspiration, comfort, motivation or insight. What a wonderful return for our invested time–take 10 seconds each morning to read a new quote and your day, maybe even our world, is changed.
I wanted to share a few of my favorite leadership quotes:
1. “To add value to others, one must first value others.” – John Maxwell
2. “A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.” – Herb Kelleher
3. “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.” – Yogi Berra
4. “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” – Thomas Jefferson
5. “Those who let things happen usually lose to those who make things happen.” – Dave Weinbaum
6. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
7. “In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
And here are a few of my own leadership quotes to add…
- Leadership is about others, not ourselves.
- Leaders who give the best of themselves get the best from others.
- If you do not take care of the little things over the long term, you won’t take care of the big things.
- Leaders who underestimate the intelligence of their employees generally overestimate their own.
- Great leaders appreciate their employees, not just their contributions.
- Don’t worry about leaving your leadership legacy. Just live it.
- Excellent leadership is not only about investing in others. It’s also about investing in yourself.
- Expectation gaps lead to execution gaps.
Please post your favorite quotes, maybe even your own originals.
I might use it in a future column, but not before asking, “May I quote you?”
Here’s to daily inspiration and application!