Douglas Conant Quotes

I would assert that highly effective leaders are made more than they're born. Every leader I know who's been highly effective has worked hard at it, and they've been students of it. The more you're a student of leadership, the more you figure out what works for you and the more effective you're going to be.

The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.

The real test of leadership isn't where you start out. It's where you end up.

Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.

Leaders aren't born they are made.

The very exercise of leadership fosters capacity for it.

Though there are lessons that can be learned about becoming a great leader, most exist inherently in the bellies of those who lead.

I don't think you just become a leader.

Great leaders, the research shows, are made as they gradually acquire, in the course of their lives and careers, the competencies that make them so effective. The competencies can be learned by any leader, at any point.

Earn your leadership every day.

You don't become an effective leader by default.

Great leaders encourage leadership development. By openly developing themselves

I don't think leaders are born. Well, they're born; everybody's born, but I think leadership can be enhanced, they can be developed, and I think that it's important we do that, particularly with our youngsters.

We must be prepared to keep pace with our leaders, stride for their every lengthened stride.

Not everyone will become a great leader, but everyone can become a better leader.

I just think that the qualities of leadership are unknown even to the leader until he's tested and given a challenge.

Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.

Leadership is hard to train on.

We have had imperfect leaders in the past, and we will have imperfect leaders in the future.

There are no perfect leaders.

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.

Many in positions of authority lack the capabilities to truly lead. They are not credible. They do not command genuine respect. They are not committed to serve. They are not continually learning and growing. They are not wise.

If you want leaders, you must become a leader yourself!

In Leading with Honor, Lee uses gripping stories from the POW camps to engage the reader and teach invaluable principles of leadership. I highly recommend this book for developing leaders at all levels in any organization, military of civilian.

Having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it.