Barry Barish Quotes

On a film crew, you can see very quickly that some people who are working with you are stronger than you. Then you have to have the humility to listen to them. And because very often they have better ideas than yours, it can be tough on the evil ego. But it makes a better film.

I was never the smartest guy in the room. From the first person I hired, I was never the smartest guy in the room. And that's a big deal. And if you're going to be a leader - if you're a leader and you're the smartest guy in the world - in the room, you've got real problems.

One thing that I've learned is that you don't have to be a prima donna or think you are better than other people in order to succeed.

As you think about developing people through their careers, you're looking for that transition from being the smartest person in the room - and caring so much about that - to being the most effective.

I'm a coachable person. I don't like to lead myself. I've been taught by great people, and I was able to listen to them.

Am I a great manager? Huh. I was blessed to have a front office that found great talent, and then I was smart enough to stay the hell out of their way.

A good leader needs to know how to follow.

A Communist must never be opinionated or domineering, thinking that he is good in everything while others are good in nothing; he must never shut himself up in his little room, or brag and boast and lord it over others.

I just think I have always had a good attitude about everything and never got ahead of myself. No one wants to work with a jerk.

For organizations seriously committed to making teamwork a cultural reality, I'm convinced that 'the right people' are the ones who have three virtues in common - humility, hunger, and people smarts.

I feel the first ten years of my career I really didn't care what the director said because I felt so arrogant. I was so certain about what should happen. But then I became a good listener.

Look, I was a water carrier, I don't reject my image. I didn't have the pretension to think that I could change a match by myself.

Some people say I'm arrogant or cocky but I'm a down to earth, decent guy.

It's vital to understand where you may have gaps in your knowledge or experience and to surround yourself with a team that complements that.

Even back in elementary school, I was a leader, but a leader who didn't know how to channel my leadership skills in a constructive way. When I was younger, it probably came out as being more of a bossy little kid.

Working together on solving something requires a high level of humility and a high level of self-awareness.

I have a business-running personality.

There are so many egos in this game - maybe we all need to come down a notch.

What's the point of being the best in the world if you scratch and claw your way to the top, and you push everybody down instead of lifting everybody else up with you?

I definitely learned a lot about how to be more communicative with my crews.

I want to appeal to everyone. Because I'm not saying I'm the best, but we the best.

I'm very artistic and creative, disorganised - ambitious, I would say, if that even makes sense. I'm definitely not the most mathematical person in the world; not scientific. I can't even work out a tip; it's really sad. But I've always thought, play up your strengths and let someone else handle your weaknesses. It's OK. Work together.

I always say, as a leader, you've got to know when to get out of the way.

As human beings, it is natural for us to pick up signals about what is valued in our environment and to want to embody those values. But being superior and infallible isn't something to strive for. Those values do not encourage people to do what is good for their organization in the long run.

I've always believed the better the players I'm surrounded by, the better I am. I've never tried to think of myself as anything different. I know who I am as a basketball player and I'm never going to try to pretend that I'm more or less, but definitely not more.