You need people who can walk their companies into the future rather than back them into the future.
Interpretation
Effective leaders propel their organizations forward rather than regressing or hesitating.
Warren Bennis emphasizes the importance of visionary leadership in organizations. Instead of simply maintaining the status quo or relying on past successes, leaders should actively seek innovative paths that guide their companies toward a prosperous future. This requires foresight, adaptability, and the ability to inspire others to embrace change and challenge conventional barriers.
In practice
In a corporate seminar discussing future strategies, this quote can inspire leaders to think forward and innovate.
The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
Learning options will indeed mushroom for business students and leaders, but it will take prudence and shrewdness to find and utilize the best option.
Specialized management courses are useful but should come well after the complexity of management and business are understood.
Leaders should always expect the very best of those around them. They know that people can change and grow.
Define excellence vividly, quantitatively. Paint a picture for your most talented employees of what excellence looks like. Keep everyone pushing and pushing toward the right-hand edge of the bell curve.
There is no deficit in human resources; the deficit is in human will.
For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he can always defend himself by his good troops and friends; and he will always have good friends if he has good troops.
The women of the Senate are like the U.S. Olympic team: we come in different sizes, but we sure are united in our determination to do the best for our country!
If you are a woman and you bought this book for practical tips on how to make it in a male-dominated workplace, here they are. No pigtails, no tube tops. Cry sparingly. (Some people say βNever let them see you cry.β I say, if youβre so mad you could just cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone.)
As a former prosecutor, I understand the importance of holding powerful people accountable.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.