The leader is the servant who removes the obstacles that prevent people from doing their jobs.

A friend of mine characterizes leaders simply like this: Leaders don't inflict pain. They bear pain.

Understanding and accepting diversity enables us to see that each of us is needed.. It also enables us to begin to think about being abandoned to the strengths of others, of admitting that we cannot know or do everything.

When we think about the people with whom we work, people on whom we depend, we can see that without each individual, we are not going to go very far as a group. By ourselves, we suffer serious limitations. Together we can be something wonderful.

To be a leader means, especially, having the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who permit leaders to lead.

Innovation is the lifeblood of an organization. Knowing how to lead and work with creative people requires knowledge and action that often goes against the typical organizational structure. Protect unusual people from bureaucracy and legalism typical of organizations.

In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.