Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.
Interpretation
True leaders nurture and empower others to become leaders themselves, rather than simply gathering followers.
This quote by Tom Peters emphasizes the transformative role of a leader. It suggests that effective leaders should focus on developing the potential of those around them, fostering an environment where individuals are inspired and encouraged to rise to leadership roles themselves. This approach not only increases the overall effectiveness of a team or organization but also contributes to a culture of collaboration and growth. Leaders are more successful when they empower others to lead rather than merely commanding a following.
In practice
In a corporate training session to highlight the importance of mentoring.
My half-baked reading of history is that we continue to go through these waves of entrepreneurial explosion followed by merger mania and consolidation. Out of that come big sluggish companies that eventually collapse under the weight of what they've created, and are killed off by the next wave of entrepreneurs.
The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.
Nearly 100% of innovation-from business to politics-is inspired not by "market analysis" but by people who are supremely pissed off by the way things are.
The little people will get even, which is one of a thousand reasons why they are not little people at all. If you're a jerk as a leader, you will be torpedoed. And usually it won't be by your vice presidents; it will be on the loading dock at 3am when no supervisors are around.
Champions are pioneers, and pioneers get shot at. The companies that get the most from champions, therefore, are those that have rich support network so their pioneers will flourish. This point is so important it's hard to overstress. No support systems, no champions. No champions, no innovations.
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
While their service is ending, our responsibility is just beginning!
I've learned some exciting things - mostly, that people really want to help each other; and that, if you can lay out a vision for them - and that vision is sincere and genuine - they'll get interested.
I've had some 'riotous excursions of the human spirit' alongside the young Sailors and Marines, and it's time to leave the stage to the young leaders who got their rank the old-fashioned way - they earned their stripes in combat.
I say this everywhere I go: I admire and respect Hillary. She has been a lawyer, a law professor, First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State.
Either love your players or get out of coaching.
I used to feel that I had to be dictatorial in order to be respected, but after I did a couple of TV movies, I began to see that authority came with the job. So I began to relax and let more people into the process, and my work really improved.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.