John C. Maxwell

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.

A minute of thought is greater than an hour of talk.

Leaders who are effective are leaders who are disciplined in their daily lives.

A successful person finds the right place for himself. But a successful leader finds the right place for others.

When the leader lacks confidence, the followers lack commitment.

A great leader has to be flexible, holding his ground on the major principles but finding room for compromises that can bring people together. A great leader has to be savvy at negotiations so we don’t drown every bill in pork barrel bridges to nowhere. I know how to stand my ground – but I also know that Republicans and Democrats need to find common ground to stand on as well.

But real leadership comes from the quiet nudging of an inner voice. It comes from realizing that the time has come to move beyond waiting to doing.

When the leader lacks confidence, the followers lack commitment.

Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.

I have a very simple rule when it comes to management: hire the best people from your competitors, pay them more than they were earning, and give them bonuses and incentives based on their performance. That’s how you build a first-class operation.

I judge people based on their capability, honesty, and merit.

You do your job, you keep your job. Do it well, you get a better job.

A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.

Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House.

The very essence of leadership is having vision.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

Leaders, true leaders, take responsibility for the success of the team, and understand that they must also take responsibility for the failure.

Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish – don’t overdo it.

It’s easy to demonise people, you’re usually wrong about it, people are nicer than you think.

Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.