The ultimate test of practical leadership is the realization of intended, real change that meets people's enduring needs.
James Macgregor BurnsRead
To elevate the goals of humankind, to achieve high moral purpose, to realize major intended change, leaders must thrust themselves into the most intractable processes and structures of history and ultimately master them.
Interpretation
Leaders must engage with difficult processes of history to achieve meaningful change.
This quote emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to actively participate in challenging and complex situations in order to promote significant moral and societal progress. It suggests that to elevate the goals of humanity and foster major changes, leaders need to immerse themselves in historical contexts and confront difficult structures and processes head-on, ultimately mastering them to create a better future.
In practice
In a corporate meeting discussing future visions, this quote can inspire executives to tackle tough challenges.
The ultimate test of practical leadership is the realization of intended, real change that meets people's enduring needs.
Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth.
Leaders are not pale reflectors of major social conflicts; they play up some, play down others, ignore still others.
Woodrow Wilson called for leaders who, by boldly interpreting the nation's conscience, could lift a people out of their everyday selves. That people can be lifted into their better selves is the secret of transforming leadership.
If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a quarterback who thinks playing quarterback is just about passing.
We have to help others. I hope that some of the young players today understand that. It's not about them. The Man Upstairs gave them that ability to play, and play consistently, but he also wants them to open their hearts and understand that people need their help.
As a major economic force worldwide, India and Indian companies have the opportunity to set the standards in Asia in terms of women's right to decent work.
I would hope that American managers-indeed, managers worldwide-continue to appreciate what I have been saying almost from day one: that management is so much more than exercising rank and privilege, that it is much more than "making deals." Management affects people and their lives.
Effective leaders share two intertwined attributes: an unbridled level of confidence about where their organizations are headed, and the ability to bring people along.
Achieving vulnerability-based trust (where team members have overcome their need for invulnerability) is difficult because in the course of career advancement and education, most successful people learn to be competitive with their peers, and protective of their reputations. It is a challenge for them to turn those instincts off for the good of the team, but that is exactly what is required.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.