The key elements in the art of working together are how to deal with change, how to deal with conflict, and how to reach our potential...the needs of the team are best met when we meet the needs of individual persons. Max De Pree More Quotes by Max De Pree More Quotes From Max De Pree Integrity in all things precedes all else. The open demonstration of integrity is essential. Max De Pree demonstration essentials integrity We talk about the quality of product and service. What about the quality of our relationships and the quality of our communications and the quality of our promises to each other? Max De Pree communication relationship promise Leaders don't inflict pain - they share pain. Max De Pree pain leader leadership Change without continuity is chaos. Continuity without change is sloth-and very risky. Max De Pree chaos sloth change If you want the best things to happen in corporate life you have to find ways to be hospitable to the unusual person. You don't get innovation as a democratic process. You almost get it as an anti-democratic process. Certainly you get it as an antithetical process, so you have to have an environment where the body of people are really amenable to change and can deal with the conflicts that arise out of change an innovation. Max De Pree innovation climate people Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do. Max De Pree belief leadership art From a leader's perspective, the most serious betrayal has to do with thwarting human potential, with quenching the spirit, with failing to deal equitably with each other as human beings. Max De Pree betrayal perspective leader No question about it: potential is wrapped in great mystery. Like rainbows, which are really circles-we see only the upper halves, the horizon hides the rest-potential never reveals its entirety. Max De Pree coaching rainbow circles We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet; and amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog has made an alliance with us. Max De Pree alliances dog friendship Trust comes only with genuine effort, never with a lick and a promise. Max De Pree genuine effort promise We can accomplish more together than we can alone. Max De Pree accomplish together When trust permeates a ministry, great things are possible, not the least of which is an opportunity to reach the ministry's potential. Max De Pree ministry great-things opportunity When we think about the people with whom we work, people on whom we depend, we can see that without each individual, we are not going to go very far as a group. By ourselves, we suffer serious limitations. Together we can be something wonderful. Max De Pree together-we-can people thinking Leadership is like third grade: it means repeating the significant things. Max De Pree third-grade significant-things mean In most vital organizations, there is a common bond of interdependence, mutual interest, interlocking contributions, and simple joy. Max De Pree mutual-interest organization simple In some South Pacific cultures, a speaker holds a conch shell as a symbol of temporary position of authority. Leaders must understand who holds the conch-that is, who should be listened to and when. Max De Pree listening-to-others effective-listening leader The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers. Max De Pree reaching followers motivational Sometimes we think we're a little too gifted to show up, yo uknow. But none of us truly is...By avoiding risk we really risk what's most important in life---reaching toward growth, our potential, and a true contribution to a common good. Max De Pree risk growth thinking History can't be left to fend for itself. For when it comes to history and beliefs and values, we turn our future on the lathe of the past. Max De Pree beliefs-and-values our-future past Trust cannot be bought or commanded, inherited or enforced. To maintain it, leaders must continually earn it. Max De Pree leader