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

Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.

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. Someone once wrote that the sound of surprise is jazz, and if there's any one thing that we must try to get used to in this world, it's surprise and the unexpected. Truly, we are living in world where the only thing that's constant is change.

In great groups, the right people always have the right job.

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

It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from followers.

Vision animates, inspires, transforms purpose into action.