Warren G. Bennis Quotes about Leadership - Page 2

I am reminded how hollow the label of leadership sometimes is and how heroic followership can be.

I am reminded how hollow the label of leadership sometimes is and how heroic followership can be.

Leadership, Vision, Labels

The first job of a leader is to define a vision for the organization...the capacity to translate vision into reality.

Leadership, Jobs, Reality

Without a terrific leader, you're not going to have a Great Group. But it is also true that you're not going to have a great leader without a Great Group.

Warren G. Bennis

Leadership, Groups, Great Leader

I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don't think that's quite it; it's more like jazz. There is more improvisation. Someone once wrote that the sound of surprise is jazz, and if there's any one thing that we must try to get used to in this world, it's surprise and the unexpected. Truly, we are living in world where the only thing that's constant is change.

Warren G. Bennis

Leadership, Running, Thinking

I'd always rather err on the side of openness. But there's a difference between optimum and maximum openness, and fixing that boundary is a judgment call. The art of leadership is knowing how much information you're going to pass on - to keep people motivated and to be as honest, as upfront, as you can. But, boy, there really are limits to that.

Warren G. Bennis

Leadership, Art, Boys

I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don't think that's quite it; it's more like jazz. There is more improvisation.

Warren G. Bennis

Leadership, Running, Thinking

Warren G. Bennis (1997). “Managing People is Like Herding Cats”, Executive Excellence Pub

Leaders are people who believe so passionately that they can seduce other people into sharing their dream.

Warren G. Bennis

Leadership, Dream, Believe

Warren G. Bennis, Patricia Ward Biederman (2009). “The Essential Bennis”, p.153, John Wiley & Sons

That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.

Warren G. Bennis

Leadership, Opposites, Future Leaders

Warren Bennis, Steven B. Sample, Rob Asghar (2015). “The Art and Adventure of Leadership: Understanding Failure, Resilience and Success”, p.15, John Wiley & Sons