It's said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others' mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others's successes.
John C. MaxwellRead
A leader can give up anything - except final responsibility.
Interpretation
Leaders must always take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
This quote emphasizes the critical role of accountability in leadership. While leaders may delegate tasks or make compromises, the ultimate responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions rests solely with them. It highlights that true leadership involves bearing the weight of one's choices, regardless of the circumstances or challenges faced.
In practice
During a leadership seminar, one might quote Maxwell to stress the importance of owning decisions.
It's said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others' mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others's successes.
Courage and initiative come when you understand your purpose in life.
Integrity is important in building relationships. And is the foundation upon which many other qualities for success are built, such as respect, dignity, and trust.
Attitude is the first quality that marks the successful man. If he has a positive attitude and is a positive thinker, who likes challenges and difficult situations, then he has half his success achieved.
Big-picture thinkers broaden their outlook by striving to learn from every experience. They don't rest on their successes, they learn from them.
In most cases, those who want power probably shouldn't have it, those who enjoy it probably do so for the wrong reasons, and those who want most to hold on to it don't understand that it's only temporary.
When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity.
The best leaders... almost without exception and at every level, are master users of stories and symbols.
Because management deals mostly with the status quo and leadership deals mostly with change, in the next century we are going to have to try to become much more skilled at creating leaders.
No decision has been made unless carrying it out in specific steps has become someone's work assignment and responsibility.
Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.
I think my father thought I might be president of the United States. I think he would've been satisfied with secretary of state. I'm a foreign policy person and to have a chance to serve my country as the nation's chief diplomat at a time of peril and consequence, that was enough.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.