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

More leaders have been made by accident, circumstance, sheer grit, or will than have been made by all the leadership courses put together.

I wanted the influence. In the end I wasn't very good at being a president. I looked out of the window and thought that the man cutting the lawn actually seemed to have more control over what he was doing.

The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.

The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.

The failure to find the right niche for people - or to let them find their own perfect niches - is a major reason that so many workplaces are mediocre, even toxic, in spite of the presence of talent. Leaders of great groups give them whatever they need and free them from everything else.

Embrace error: Create an atmosphere in which prudent risk taking is strongly encouraged.