Taking charge of your own learning is a part of taking charge of your life, which is the sine qua non in becoming an integrated person. Warren G. Bennis More Quotes by Warren G. Bennis More Quotes From Warren G. Bennis Ineffective leaders often act on the advice and counsel of the last person they talked to. Warren G. Bennis lasts leader advice Trust is difficult to define, but we know when it's present and when it's not. Warren G. Bennis difficult knows If I were to give off-the-cuff advice to anyone trying to institute change, I would say, "How clear is the metaphor?" Warren G. Bennis change advice giving I wanted the influence. In the end I wasn't very good at being a president. I looked out of the window and thought that the man cutting the lawn actually seemed to have more control over what he was doing. Warren G. Bennis cutting president men Possess the "Nobel Factor": Possess and constantly demonstrate optimism, faith, and hope. They create choices. I am reminded of an ancient Chinese proverb: "That the birds of worry and care fly above your head, this you cannot change; but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent." Warren G. Bennis optimism worry hair Understand the "Pygmalion Effect": Leaders should always expect the very best of those around them. They know that people can change and grow. Warren G. Bennis pygmalion leader people It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from followers. Warren G. Bennis followers skills leadership Create strategic alliances and partnerships: Now and in years to come, shrewd leaders will create allegiances with other organizations whose fates are correlated with their own. Warren G. Bennis fate organization years The first job of a leader is to define a vision for the organization...the capacity to translate vision into reality. Warren G. Bennis leadership jobs reality Leaders should always expect the very best of those around them. They know that people can change and grow. Warren G. Bennis leader management people Successful leaders are great askers Warren G. Bennis leader problem successful The manager administers; the leader innovates. Warren G. Bennis leadership-vs-management leader inspirational Don't over-react to the trouble makers. Warren G. Bennis trouble-maker makers trouble Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. Warren G. Bennis mediocrity excellence teacher The ability to plan for what has not yet happened, for a future that has only been imagined, is one of the hallmarks of leadership. Warren G. Bennis hospitality vision leadership That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. Warren G. Bennis future-leaders leadership opposites Companies which get misled by their own success are sure to be blind sided. Warren G. Bennis discipline blind success A leader is someone whose actions have the most profound consequences on other people's lives, for better or worse, sometime forever and ever. Warren G. Bennis leader profound people Listening to the inner voice - trusting the inner voice - is one of the most important lessons of leadership. Warren G. Bennis voice important listening Just as no great painting has ever been created by a committee, no great vision has ever emerged from the herd. Warren G. Bennis herds painting vision