Desmond Tutu Quotes

The people know that they need in their representative much more than talent, namely, the power to make his talent trusted.

The president has to have the trust, earn the trust, maintain the trust of people in order to lead. And there's nothing that will lose it quicker than a sense that he's in it for a quick buck.

Trust is the essence of Leadership.

Character in many ways is everything in leadership. It is made up of many things, but I would say character is really integrity.

Will and wisdom are both mighty leaders. Our times worship will.

Character makes trust possible, and trust is the foundation of leadership.

Leadership is learned, earned, and discerned. You develop it. It's based on trust and credibility. Others see it in you. You can't demand it.

If you say something and back it up with your actions, you will provide the 'proof' for people who are listening to you, and they will much more willingly follow your lead.

Character creates consistency, and if your people know what they can expect from you, they will continue to look to you for leadership.

The world doesn't need more great leaders, it needs more great people who lead.

Leadership is not a right-it is a responsibility.

People had so much respect for George Mitchell. They wanted to cooperate with him. I think that's a hallmark of a very good leader.

We need moral leadership and courage in our world.

You don't lead by lip service, you lead by example.

Great leaders inspire, they don't manipulate.

No matter your title, people will not follow you if they don’t trust you.

People will not follow a leader with moral incongruities for long. Every time you compromise character you compromise leadership. The foundation of firm leadership is character.

A leader who loses his connection to his people soon loses the ability to lead them.

When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.

In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man's associates find him guilty of being phony, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.

Trust is equal parts character and competence... You can look at any leadership failure, and it's always a failure of one or the other.

A leader is useless when he acts against the promptings of his own conscience.

If you can't force or are unwilling to force your people to follow you, with or without threats, you are not a leader.

The more credible you are, the more confidence people place in you, thereby allowing you the privilege of influencing their lives.

The essence of leadership is building bonds of trust in your organization.