Sometimes leadership is planting trees under whose shade you'll never sit. It may not happen fully till after I'm gone. But I know that the steps we're taking are the right steps.
Interpretation
True leadership often involves making sacrifices and decisions that benefit future generations without immediate recognition.
This quote by Jennifer Granholm emphasizes the selfless nature of true leadership, where leaders invest in long-term outcomes for others, even if they themselves never reap the benefits. It highlights the importance of vision and commitment to progress that may not be realized in one's lifetime, and affirms that the actions taken today are crucial for the future.
In practice
This quote can inspire a team meeting discussing long-term goals and the importance of vision.
Those who purify your water, inspect your meat, and test your kids toys, as well as a huge number of nurses, teachers, and our soldiers, are public employees. The firefighters who don't hesitate to rush toward danger while you run away from it - they are all public employees.
When someone lives as a minority, they experience the world differently than those of us who live in the majority. We may occupy the same physical space, but we don't occupy the same psychic space.
Of all the many leaders I have met in the course of my life, none made a deeper impression on me than Nelson Mandela. His courage, compassion, humility and wisdom were without parallel on the world stage, and he himself was an enduring source of inspiration.
The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master.
Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible.
If a player's not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He'll come around.
I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring in, the people they will bring in, who they might appoint to the Supreme Court, and look at the whole range of issues before making a decision.
Conversation creates a new kind of network within organizations. Current networks are used for competitive advantage, but conversation is focused on encouraging people to realize their potential.
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