John Wooden Quotes

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Taking on a leadership role doesn't mean that you only have to be personally ambitious.

Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people that they lead.

The real leader has no need to lead - he is content to point the way.

It's fair to characterise me as competitive and determined, but anyone who works with me will attest to the fact I believe very strongly in the notion of servant leadership.

A leader is best when people barely know that he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worst when they despise him. Fail to honor people, They fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aims fulfilled, they will all say, "We did this ourselves.

Leadership does not mean domination

The strongest leaders do not command, they empower

The first step to leadership is servanthood.

If you're the leader, you've got to give up your omniscient and omnipotent fantasies - that you know and must do everything. Learn how to abandon your ego to the talents of others.

When you say 'I want to be an inspiring leader,' the operative phrase is 'I want.' This is inherently me-centered and self serving whether or not you recognise it. What you are really saying is 'I want to get people to do what I would like them to.' Perhaps they don't want to do that. So you have to somehow get them there.

Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery.

Leadership does not depend on being right.

I look at power as the ability to get people motivated and to get them to do things that maybe they don't think are important but, in the end, are in pursuit of something greater than themselves.

A good leader should focus on making sure everyone is being given the tools to do their job, not just expecting - poof! - that they're going to produce great work.

Motivation is everything. You can do the work of two people, but you can't be two people. Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people.

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.

I don't believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.

There are leaders vocally, and there are leaders by example. I think I'm starting to become better at being a leader vocally, just talking on the court.

I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.

When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

People ask the difference between a leader and a boss.... The leader works in the open, and the boss is covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives

Leaders don’t boss. Not if they’re any good. They persuade. America needs a whole lot more persuading and a lot less bossing.

Leadership involves persuasion, and conciliation, and education and patience. It's long, slow, tough work. That is the only kind of leadership I know or will believe in, or will practice.

Leadership is service to others.