Warren Bennis Quotes

To enjoy enduring success we should travel a little in advance of the world.

The ablest administrators do not merely draw logical conclusions from the array of facts of the past which their expert assistants bring to them, they have a vision of the future.

I'll always rather be in a ship that's got a captain that has some vision.

The essence of leadership is being able to see the iceberg before it hits the Titanic.

The statesman's duty is to bridge the gap between his nation's experience and his vision.

The essence of leadership is essentially taking the responsibility of trying to interpret the future to the present.

Let us not confuse objectives with methods. Too many so-called leaders of the nation fail to see the forest because of the trees. Too many of them fail to recognize the vital necessity of planning for definite objectives. True leadership calls for the setting forth of the objectives and the rallying of public opinion in support of these objectives.

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. The public does not fully understand the world into which it is going. Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision. Those leaders who do not are ultimately judged failures, even though they may be popular at the moment.

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

The leader is the organization's top strategist... systematically envisioning the future and specifically mapping out how to get there.

Men of action," whose minds are too busy with the day's work to see beyond it. They are essential men, we cannot do without them, and yet we must not allow all our vision to be bound by the limitations of "men of action.

Leaders exhibit two essential characteristics, the willingness to confront adversity and a clearly articulated future preference.

You politicians have got to look further ahead; you always got a Putter in your hands, when you ought to have a Driver.

The most serious failure of leadership is the failure to foresee

The opportunist thinks of me and today. The statesman thinks of us and tomorrow.

Being one step ahead makes you a leader Being fifty steps ahead could make you a martyr.

Vision is the most powerful weapon in the leader's arsenal.

A leader has the capacity of vision, the ability to see where things are headed before people in general see those things.

You talk about seeing around corners as an element of success. That's what differentiates the good leader. Not many people have it. Not many people can predict that corner. That would be a characteristic of great leaders.

If a leader cannot give you a clear picture of what he or she sees in the future, that person is not the leader of that organization.

Personal Vision is often the catalyst for wise decisions.

A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others do." (Leroy Eims)

Leaders make decisions that create the future they desire.

Vision rarely require immediate action. It requires patience.

Remember this: Anticipation is the ultimate power. Losers react; leaders anticipate.