Great leaders love talent and know where to find it. They surround themselves with talented people who can work effectively together.

I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don't think that's quite it; it's more like jazz. There is more improvisation.

Listening to the inner voice - trusting the inner voice - is one of the most important lessons of leadership.

Understand the "Gretzky Factor": Cultivate an instinct, a "touch", call it what you will, that enables you to know both where the "puck" is now and where it will be soon.

Effective leaders make a full commitment to be a learner, to keep increasing and nourishing their knowledge and wisdom.

Create strategic alliances and partnerships: Now and in years to come, shrewd leaders will create allegiances with other organizations whose fates are correlated with their own.

The first job of a leader is to define a vision for the organization...the capacity to translate vision into reality.