John W. Thompson Quotes

To be a great leader, you firstly have to like people. If you don't like people, at the end of the day they will figure this out and you can't lead them too well.

I think it really makes a difference when you know the people that you're working with, when you develop a relationship.

When you explain to people what you're trying to do, as opposed to just making demands or delegating tasks, you can build instant trust, even if it's just for that short time you're on the phone.

Building relationships. Communicating. Trust. Those are three things I've kind of instilled myself with.

I believe that working with good people matters because then the work environment is good. If there is a sense of respect and belief among the people you work with, that is when good work is done.

I believe you can work with anybody.

Leaders understand the ultimate power of relationships.

I make my relationships at work.

You need to have camaraderie in the clubhouse. Wherever you're working, be it a baseball team or at a business, you want to walk in there and say, 'Geez, it's great to be at work. Let's go get 'em,' as opposed to walking in there knowing there's going to be a commotion.

I don't put together cars, I put together people.

I just want to listen and build relationships with as many of my colleagues as possible.

You have to get along with people, but you also have to recognize that the strength of a team is different people with different perspectives and different personalities.

You learn a lot about a person when you work together.

In running Wilson Sonsini, it's all people-to-people skills. Those people-to-people skills translate into diplomatic skills.

I'm just human, and I have great relationships with the people that work for me.

The ability to communicate with everybody, regardless of who are you are, is a great thing.

What I've learned - after working for, I guess, some time now - is when you're approaching a relationship like that, like, any working relationship, it's good to be open. To know that someone might have a different way of doing things and listen to them. And hopefully, you come to a common understanding.

Diplomacy is listening to what the other guy needs. Preserving your own position, but listening to the other guy. You have to develop relationships with other people so when the tough times come, you can work together.

My office has no walls. You can't be removed from your team to be successful. You have to be respectful of others.

Obviously, you always hope you're going to get on with people you work with.

Both players and coaches take time to understand each other. Frequent changes bring that rapport to square one.

I try to speak with my team-mates a lot because I need them everyday.

In order to build chemistry you've got to really know one another.

When you get the relationships right and get to know each other, it really translates onto the pitch.

I try to work with people the way they prefer.