Bryan Robson Quotes

I wanted to change the rules of engagement, asking for more- from fewer. I was insisting that we had to have only the best people...If you wanted excellence, at a minimum, the ambience had to reflect excellence.

If you want to be the best, find out what the top people do & do it yourself.

When you're the lead and on most of the call sheets, some people have expectations of you and whether you like it or not, you kind of set the tone.

You can't lead from the crowd.

I was looking for excellence in any color or gender it comes in. Some of my top people are African American but not all of them.

Choose great people and shine in their shadows

When people ask me, ‘how do you make it in show business,’ or whatever, what I always tell them — and nobody ever takes note of it ‘cuz it’s not the answer they wanted to hear…but I always say, ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you.’

Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.

Excellence isn’t about working extra hard to do what you’re told. It’s about taking the initiative to do work you decide is worth doing.

One thing I always think about in making a market, and it again is something I have learned from Sam [Palmisano] as well, he always says, "Be first and be lonely."

A good leader leads from the front. Don't get stuck in the office. Get out, meet people and listen to their stories.

People live by example. I can't tell you, "You can be anything," if I shot my own dreams down or was too afraid to go after them.

You must always be faster and better than the others.

People follow courage, not titles.

Right now, you know, it's not about the refs or anything else, it's about hitting first, getting on the run and never looking back.

Good leadership means leading the way, not hectoring other people to do things your way.

I think that’s a responsibility that I have, to push possibilities, to show people: “This is the level that things could be at.”

The people at the top don't work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder.

A leader is someone you are not disappointed in placing trust in. When that person makes suggestions, you are inclined to trust [them]. Often it is people who have been there [in a similar situation to the people he or she is leading]. They would generally be people who are ready to take the risks themselves. Most leaders would be people who don't ever give commands and remain at home and let the foot soldiers be the ones who bear the brunt.

I'm always inspired by people who raise the bar, whether in their field of work, parenthood, or giving back.

It's always great when you get a lot of people pushing themselves to do better, be better, invent better, better serve, better lead customers in new directions.

Everybody does the things that top people do occasionally. Top people do these things all of the time.

Leadership is a choice. It's not a rank, it's a choice. I know many people who are at the top of their organization who have authority. We have to do what they say because they have authority over us. But they're not leaders. We wouldn't follow them. They may be at the top of the company but they're not leaders.

Leadership is about calling people to do things beyond themselves.

You have achieved excellence as a leader when people will follow you anywhere if only out of curiosity.