21 Statements on Leadership: What Does It Take To Be a Leader?
Leaders are needed in every industry. I’ve often asked myself: “What does it take to be a leader?” and my answer changes almost every time. So I dug into the opinions of other professionals from sportsmen to presidents. Here are 21 statements to consider and how I relate to them.
- “What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” — Stephen Covey, Author and Educator
Leading through example, in my eyes, is one of the strongest ways to show your peers leadership. Many people can say things. They might even have the authority to do so. But a real leader will also act and do what needs to be done, gaining the respect of those around them. Action speaks louder than words.
2. “Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” — Sam Walton, Founder of Walmart and Sam’s Club
Boosting your peers’ self-esteem and mentality is one of the strongest tools in any leader’s toolbox to get things done. Believing in your colleagues and supporting them can have tremendous outcomes. When you raise their self-confidence, you’ll also create trust in them, and others tend to respond positively.
3. “Leadership is something you earn, something you’re chosen for. You can’t come in yelling, ‘I’m your leader!’ If it happens, it’s because the other guys respect you.” — Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback
It is unlikely that someone will consider you a leader when you have not earned it. People might have titles and authority, but that doesn’t automatically make them a leader. And obnoxiously flaunting your title can turn everyone against you. If you earn your team’s trust and respect as a leader, they’ll stand by you through thick and thin.
4. “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” — Peter F. Drucker, Author and Educator
Management and managers are different from leadership and leaders. Managers follow protocol and try to focus on business outcomes. Leaders, on the other hand, consider their peers and focus on doing the right things. While managers care about the outcome, leaders care about how to get to the outcome.
5. “You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.” — Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motor Company
As mentioned earlier, someone might have titles and authority, but those alone don’t make them a leader just yet. However, even if you don’t have the position or authority, you could still be a leader that your peers could follow.
6. “Each group and each youngster is different. As a leader or coach, you get to know what they need.” — Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Basketball Coach
Even though Krzyzewski is a basketball coach, his statement also applies to the business world. Each team is unique, which means that they have different needs, and may respond better to different leadership styles. There’s no “one size fits all” concept here, because everything is situational to the uniqueness of the team. A great leader can notice and understand this and act accordingly.
7. “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” — Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame Basketball Superstar
Michael Jordan is one of the most accomplished athletes of all time, and his statement embraces the qualities of a leader. If you want it, you make it happen. This is controversial from one of the previous statements comparing leaders and managers. But the reason Jordan nailed it is because he knew that winning games wasn’t dependent on him scoring the most points. Rather, winning was a team effort. Rely on and trust your team, and you’ll bring the best out in them.
8. “Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control.” — Tom Landry, Former Dallas Cowboys Coach
People look up to leaders. If you can stay calm and in control during complicated situations, then those around you can do the same. The way you present yourself to your peers is a direct reflection of what kind of leader you are. In a leadership position, you’ll need to make quick and difficult decisions, and this is often the deciding factor as to whether or not a person is up for the job.
9. “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” — Ronald Reagan, Former U.S. President
This statement doesn’t mean that you should get others to do your dirty work. It’s the opposite — if you’re a great leader and inspire your peers to follow you, they can reach higher potentials and achieve great outcomes. Something that Reagan’s statement doesn’t reflect, which is also important to highlight, is giving credit. The best leaders enable their peers to shine and give them credit for their work. Leaders shouldn’t try to take the spotlight for others’ successes.
10. “The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.” ― Henry Kissinger, Former U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State
From how I interpret this quote, leaders are able to bring people out of their comfort zone and bring out the best in them. It’s the leader’s responsibility to continuously challenge their peers to help them improve. I’ve been told several times that doing the same actions over and over, but expecting a different outcome is insanity. If something needs to be changed, a leader should motivate and guide their peers to take on innovative and creative ways to get results.
11. “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand.” — General Colin Powell, Former U.S. Secretary of State
Being articulate is one of the qualities great leaders should have. Firstly, the capability to word and explain things in a simplistic manner ensures that everyone can understand and relate. Secondly, offering solutions to complicated situations steers the team in the right direction.
12. “A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” — Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa
This also happens in nature, such as with wolves. The leader of the “pack” is the last in line to make sure nobody gets left behind. Leaders should have their peers’ backs and guide them when they face difficult situations. Leaders shouldn’t do this just to get to the desired outcomes, but also to ensure that the team feels confident in their day-to-day activities, even when they face hardships. Last but not least, if a leader helps their peers shine and gives their peers the spotlight, without taking any credit themselves, they have a “backbone’’ they can rely on and trust.
13. “Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower, Former U.S. President
Leaders are responsible for their team. If things go well, you should give your team credit and help them shine. If things don’t go as planned, the responsibility falls on the leader’s shoulders to find a solution. All of this comes down to a good mentality. Leaders who are able to do this could have the most reliable and loyal team that will go above and beyond for them.
14. “Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.” — Seth Godin, Author and Former Dot Com Business Executive
Leaders listen to their subordinates and peers, and even more importantly, make sure their voices are heard. Leaders understand that when given the chance, people will share amazing ideas, thoughts, innovations, concepts that have the potential to benefit the team as well as the organization. And this creates an even stronger bond between both sides. The last thing any leader should want is to discourage their peers from speaking up and from feeling comfortable about sharing their ideas.
15. “There are no office hours for leaders.” — Cardinal J. Gibbons, Bishop
This statement doesn’t mean that a leader shouldn’t work an average 9 to 5 like others. It means that a leader doesn’t ask for time, but should be ready to be one at all times. You’ll need to be ready to go above and beyond to support your team, as well as take additional effort to achieve desired outcomes. Further, I believe that great leaders aren’t leaders only during “office hours’’ and in the workplace, but also outside of that environment by being a friend and supporting their peers when needed.
16. “When people talk, listen completely.” — Ernest Hemingway, Writer and Journalist
Being able to listen is as important as being able to communicate as a leader. When someone tells you something, whether it’s your superior, subordinate, colleague, peer, or an external stakeholder, give them the courtesy and time to listen to them fully. Give them your attention and full focus. And if needed, ask necessary questions to better understand them. If you can understand and relate to them, you are also able to further help them as a leader. But it all starts from being silent and listening first.
17. “One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” — Arnold Glasow, Businessman
As a leader, you might need to understand the bigger picture and predict outcomes. Admitting and recognizing a problem is always hard, in both your professional and personal life, but being able to prevent a problem from becoming a critical emergency, by perhaps making hard decisions, is a skill set you should have. This is one of the most difficult aspects of being a leader, since if you make mistakes on this front, you’ll not only fail yourself but others as well.
18. “The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” — Harvey S. Firestone, Founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
Great leaders want their peers to grow, and find ways to support and help them to do so. This will not only make your peers more qualified and confident but also make your day-to-day work easier, as you can delegate tasks and trust in others’ capabilities to get the job done.
In the 21st century, this has never been easier when it comes to education. Leaders can recommend online courses, webinars, articles, books, and a variety of materials to find industry-specific information to further their knowledge. Growth can also be achieved through personal development sessions, boosting your confidence as well as helping you shine in the organization.
19. “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” — Ralph Nader, Activist and Author
This quote builds on the previous statement. While someone might not have the title to be a leader, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t one. And one of the many goals of any leader is to bring out leadership traits in their peers. Leadership isn’t only about leading but also about teamwork, communication, striving for the same goals. Sharing some of your burdens and responsibilities can actually help make your peers step outside of their comfort zone and achieve more.
20. “The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.” — Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the U.K.
This statement isn’t only about saying yes or no. The way I understand it is that leaders need to be able to also make the hard decisions. Many people want to get to a leadership position, which can surely be rewarding, but it also comes with its own hardships, such as being able to say no. You do need to have a strong backbone and not take everything personally. Even when you say no, it doesn’t mean that it will always be a no. Everything has its own time and place.
21. “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” — Margaret Fuller, Journalist and Women’s Rights Advocate
Improving yourself to become a better leader is something anyone can do. By reading, you open your mind to new concepts, ideas, thoughts, and opinions. You educate and expand your knowledge, allowing you to make better decisions in the future. Reading also has a long list of benefits — from relieving stress and stimulating your mind to strengthening analytical thinking skills and expanding your vocabulary.
I want to finish the article with a statement from Douglas MacArthur, a five-star general and field marshal: “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
What are your thoughts on these 21 statements, and what do you think it takes to be a leader? Let me know in the comment section below.
