Leadership and Change

Quotes by Douglas Brent Smith

• True leadership wisdom makes room for change. Knowledge is dynamic

• Your courage is up to you. That's what makes it courage.
  

• Courageous leaders face up to their weaknesses and ask for help.
  

• Compassion is free until you withhold it; then the price is immeasurably high.
  

• A complaint is a call to action. Take it.
  

• Centered leaders add value instead of dividing it.

• The air is thin at the mountain peak but that's where the best view is. Just don't go it alone.

• Mountains never stop growing, why should we?

• Are your goals centered on your purpose? How can you focus more clearly?

• Leadership flexibility requires carefully practiced listening skills.

• The truth will always bubble to the top. How will you as a leader look when it does?

• Staying centered under stress is a leader's most useful skill. 

• A centered leader elicits the truth no matter how controversial.

• Authentic creativity generates ideas, not smoke and mirrors.

• Everyone can develop creativity -- and should.

• Sharing compassion helps the receiver and the giver.

• Brilliance depends on context. Are you open to the unexpected?

• Centered leaders handle anger without harming others.

• Creativity expands possibilities. Clarity defines your boundaries. Must have both.

• If we can't agree on the truth, lets agree on the possibility.

• Running away from conflict means you get to face it again later.

• Centered leaders know when to facilitate harmony or discord.

• Balancing challenge and support is an art. Be creative.

• You are most profound when you are most open to change.

• Centered leaders influence by first considering all possibilities as valid and reserving judgment until sharing understanding and meaning.

• Stressed? Take three breaths and call me when you're centered.

• Hardship means more opportunity to be human. Take it gladly.

• You've got to center yourself before leading the uncentered.

• Centered leaders provide roots and wings -- patiently.

• If your next step to success is too big, ask for help.

• Centered leaders balance their life and work skillfully. How are you doing at that?

• Modesty, coupled with confidence, helps you find your leadership center.

• Are your goals centered on your purpose? How can you focus more clearly?

• Mountains never stop growing -- why should we?

• The air is thin at the mountain peak but that's where the best view is. Just don't go it alone.

• If you need a retention bonus to be a good leader, why should anyone trust you?

• A complaint is a call to action Take it!

• Compassion is free unless you withhold it -- then the cost is immeasurably high.

• Courageous leaders face up to their weaknesses and ask for help.

• Your courage is up to you. That's what makes it courage.

• If you aren't learning compassion within your organization, study someplace else. Then bring back what you learned.

• True leadership makes room for change. Knowledge is dynamic.

• Although a leader's path grows from the detours, be sure to bring a map.

• Need more energy? Learn a new skill.

• Centered leaders talk about what's bothering them instead of letting the poison grow.

• High performance leaders share more positive feedback than criticism -- about five times more.

• If your feedback is hard to deliver, imagine how hard it is to receive.

• If performance reviews leave you emotionally drained, what should you change?

• High performance teams are almost always happy and never quite satisfied. There is always more to achieve.

• Who can you thank today for making your life better? Call them now.

• High performance leaders challenge everyone on the team -- especially themselves.
  

How To cite this page:

Leadership and Change, quotes from Douglas Brent Smith (2009) retrieved from: http://frontrangeleadership.com/doug_smith_quotes.html

Page updated 28 August 2009

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For expanded views and deeper dives into these leadership motivational ideas, check out our blog at:
http://highperformanceleadership.blogspot.com/

Copyright 2009 Douglas Brent Smith

 

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