If I had to reduce the responsibilities of a good follower to a single rule, it would be to speak truth to power. Warren G. Bennis More Quotes by Warren G. Bennis More Quotes From Warren G. Bennis Make sure you have someone in your life from whom you can get reflective feedback. Warren G. Bennis feedbacklife If you're the leader, you've got to give up your omniscient and omnipotent fantasies - that you know and must do everything. Learn how to abandon your ego to the talents of others. Warren G. Bennis egogiving-upleader Servant leadership teaches us that you have to lay your cards on the table. Warren G. Bennis servant-leadershipcards-on-the-tabletables Encourage reflective backtalk: Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth. Warren G. Bennis importanceleaderknows Leading with character gives the wise leader clear-cut advantages. They are easier to trust and follow; they honor commitments and promises; their words and behavior match; they are always engaged in and by the world; they are open to "reflective backtalk": they can speak with conviction because they believe in what they are saying...and everyone else knows that. They are comfortable in their own skin. They feel at ease in the spotlight and they enjoy it there. They tend to be more receptive to opportunity and risk. Warren G. Bennis wisecharacterbelieve This is more than just having a vision. You can see the difference in the often-cited way in which Steve Jobs brought in John Sculley to take over Apple. At the time, Sculley was destined to be the head of Pepsico. The clincher came when Jobs asked him, "How many more years of your life do you want to spend making colored water when you can have an opportunity to come here and change the world?" Warren G. Bennis opportunityjobsyears The manager has his eye on the bottom line; the leader has his eye on the horizon. Warren G. Bennis eyeleaderinspirational That's important to remember: it's not just a collection of great individuals but a group of people who enjoy playing in the sandbox, thoroughly enjoying collaborative problem solving. Warren G. Bennis groupsimportantpeople Leaders wonder about everything, want to learn as much as they can, are willing to take risks, experiment, try new things. They do not worry about failure but embrace errors, knowing they will learn from them. Warren G. Bennis errorsknowingworry Without a terrific leader, you're not going to have a Great Group. But it is also true that you're not going to have a great leader without a Great Group. Warren G. Bennis great-leadergroupsleadership The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born - that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. Warren G. Bennis successmotivationalinspirational You need people who can walk their companies into the future rather than back them into the future. Warren G. Bennis visionpeopleneeds Recognize the skills and traits you don't possess, and hire the people who have them. Warren G. Bennis mentoringskillspeople Charisma is the result of effective leadership, not the other way around. Warren G. Bennis charismaresultsway Every great group is an island... but an island with a bridge to the mainland. Warren G. Bennis groupsbridgesislands Leaders are people who believe so passionately that they can seduce other people into sharing their dream. Warren G. Bennis leadershipdreambelieve Manage the dream: Create a compelling vision, one that takes people to a new place, and then translate that vision into a reality. Warren G. Bennis dreamrealitypeople The new leader is one who commits people to action, who converts followers into leaders, and who may convert leaders into agents of change. Warren G. Bennis followersleadershippeople More leaders have been made by accident, circumstance, sheer grit, or will than have been made by all the leadership courses put together. Warren G. Bennis gritleadertogether In the face of ambiguity, uncertainty, and conflicting demands, often under great time pressure, leaders must make decisions and take effective actions to assure the survival and success of their organizations. This is how leaders add value to their organizations. They lead them to success by exercising good judgment, by making smart calls when especially difficult and complicated decisions simply must be made, and then ensuring that they are well executed. Warren G. Bennis smartorganizationexercise
