Malcolm Forbes Quotes

The person who manages the state is me.

Authority must be respected and chosen wisely.

In a very real way, ownership is the essence of leadership. When you are 'ridiculously in charge,' then you own whatever happens in a company, school, et cetera.

There is only one way to respond to the issue of leadership and that is to lead.

Just as an athlete must exercise his body to be a winner, a leader must exercise his position of authority. If he doesn't, he loses that authority.

Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility.

Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.

The great irony of management is that the higher up you go, the less actual control you have. When you are but a humble coder, you make the computer do exactly what you want; when you're a manager, you only hope that people understand what you want, and then trust/pray that they do it both correctly and in a timely manner.

To be honest, the fact that people trust you gives you a lot of power over people. Having another person's trust is more powerful than all other management techniques put together.

Governance is a way of organizing, amplifying, and constraining power.

I believe in delegating power.

I am a director. I'm the one who can order men around.

Certainly I shall not be one of those who, having gained power, do not wish to use it.

Leadership does matter.

A lot of people think that they are leaders just because they have been placed in charge of something - and you're not.

I've put a lot of thought into being a leader.

I want to be the guy calling the shots.

One thing I am is a leader and if I'm not allowed to lead, then I have to follow. So then I want to be the best follower that I can.

I am better when I have control. I am not a power freak. But my point is that I need to feel that I can manage the team and have a direct, clear line through to the owners. Once that becomes hazy, for me, there is a problem.

Much of command is the ability to take command.

Never delegate. Always empower.

Leadership is not a popularity contest; it's about leaving your ego at the door. The name of the game is to lead without a title.

To rule is easy, to govern difficult.

Leadership is influence.

All leaders share something in common. They feel they are the only ones who can do the job.