John Wooden Quotes

The ablest and most effective leaders do not hold to a single style; they may be highly supportive in personal relations when that is needed, yet capable of a quick, authoritative decision when the situation requires it.

The best leaders don’t know just one style of leadership—they’re skilled at several, and have the flexibility to switch between styles as the circumstances dictate.

Effective team leaders adjust their style to provide what the group can't provide for itself.

The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions. Not me. I don't want to be a manager or a dictator. I want to be a leader-and leadership is ongoing, adjustable, flexible, and dynamic. As such, leaders have to maintain a certain amount of discretion

Leadership ability determines a person's level of effectiveness.

Unpredictability is the greatest asset a leader can have.

A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances.

Hire people who are better than you are, then leave them to get on with it. Look for people who will aim for the remarkable, who will not settle for the routine.

But in a turbulent environment the change is so widespread that it just routes around any kind of central authority. So it is best to manage the bottom-up change rather than try to institute it from the top down.

Different times need different types of leadership.

Everybody on my team - I couldn't do their jobs. I could not. I really mean that. So I figured out early on that the way you're successful is you hire really successful people.

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

Most people don't like change. They revolt against it unless they can clearly see the advantage it brings. For that reason, when good leaders prepare to take action or make changes, they take people through a process to get them ready for it.

I believe that the capacity that any organisation needs is for leadership to appear anywhere it is needed, when it is needed.

A leader should not be obstinate, but must think of the people.

In a world of rapid change, an agile and adaptable mind, a pragmatic and cooperative temperament, a strong ethical orientation - these are increasingly the keys to effective leadership. And I would add to this list a capacity for intellectual humility which keeps one’s mind constantly open to a variety of viewpoints and which welcomes pluralistic exchange.

A statesman gains little by the arbitrary exercise of ironclad authority upon all occasions that offer, for this wounds the just pride of his subordinates, and thus tends to undermine his strength. A little concession, now and then, where it can do no harm is the wiser policy

I think a lot of people, when the word leadership is used, they think of it as quite forceful and quite a rigid thing. I think people think I am like that. But people can lead in different ways.

The best leaders adapt and are flexible with their situations. I try to be the same.

I don't want to be a leader that is one-dimensional or two-dimensional because he's not willing to be open.

The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.

Whoever is providing leadership needs to be as fresh and thoughtful and reflective as possible to make the very best fight.

We're going to see leadership emerge as the most important element of business - the attribute that is highest in demand and shortest in supply.

Your leadership development strategy is perfectly designed to produce the caliber of leader you currently have.