Leadership Thought: An Exercise for Leadership Discussion and Development

Dear Friends,

Several months ago I shared some leadership quotes that I used with my basketball team while I was coaching at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over the years I have collected many such leadership quotations, a few of which I share below. Most of these I have sought to commit to memory with the hope that they might consciously or unconsciously impact and influence my leadership. 

I would suggest that leaders meet with their team members and personally discuss them. Participants might select three of their favorites and then express why they picked them. Mutual sharing of  these leadership principles can result in valuable discussions as participants share how they might impact their own personal leadership styles.

Participants should be reminded that wisdom is only wisdom if you use it. 

1. Relationships are forged, not formed. They require time and common experience.

2. If you want to go up, there must be things you must be willing to give up.

3. Everyone wants to feel that he counts for something and is important to someone. Invariably, people will give their love, respect, and attention to the person who fills that need.

4. What happens in you is more important than what happens to you.

5. We can do anything, but we can't do everything. 

6. You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb himself.

7. Pass credit when the sweat is still on the brow.

8. The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.

9. Example is not the main thing in influencing others; it's the only thing.

10. When opportunity comes: it's too late to prepare.

11. Brains are like hearts; They go where they are appreciated.

12. Never take a journey alone; always take someone with you.

13. People do what gets praised.

14. Catch people doing something good and praise them.

15. Treat a man as he appears to be and you will make him worse; But treat a man as if he is already what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be.

16. Everyone wants progress, but they don't want change.

17. Do the most important thing first each day, and you will never have an unproductive day.

18. Some people say something and some people have something to say. 

19. Truth presented as law hardens hearts, but truth presented with grace changes hearts.

20. The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart.

Unfortunately, I did not retain the source of these quotes when recording them.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom