A real leader has the ability to motivate others to their highest level of achievement; then gives them the opportunity and the freedom to grow.

You can't talk about leadership without talking about responsibility and accountability...you can't separate the two. A leader must delegate responsibility and provide the freedom to make decisions, and then be held accountable for the results.

Good people need room to develop. They have to find their own voice . . . each IBMer is a businessperson working within the framework of the company structure.

There are countless ways of achieving greatness, but any road to achieving one's maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for the individual, a commitment to excellence, and a rejection of mediocrity.

. . . the world is filled with the kind of customers who deserve the care and attention I advocate, and I'd be willing to jump through hoops to win and keep them.

While every body wants it, most don't want to give it.

People buy products for what they can do, not for what they are.