Whether you’re an entry-level employee, business founder, or corporate executive, sometimes you just need a bit of leadership inspiration. Sure, there are quotes to be found all over the Web, and a quick scroll through Twitter, Instagram, or your favorite blog could lead you to something enlightening.
But sometimes situations call for humour rather than the stiffness of a good quote. If you’re looking for a great quotation on leadership that gives you a chance to laugh, look no further.
Here’s a list of 20 that should do the trick:
Handshake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1. “The question, 'Who ought to be boss?' is like asking, 'Who ought to be the tenor in the quartet?' Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.” - Henry Ford
2. “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” - George S. Patton
3. “You do not lead by hitting people over the head -- that's assault, not leadership.” - Dwight Eisenhower
4. “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” - Theodore Roosevelt
5. “First rule of leadership: everything is your fault.” - A Bug's Life
6. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.” - Lao-Tzu
7. "Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes." - Lewis Grizzard
8. “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” - Theodore M. Hesburgh
9. “Always drink upstream from the herd.” - Will Rogers
10. “Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too.” - Robert Half
11. "Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders." - Sloan Wilson
12. “When I finally got a management position, I found out how hard it is to lead and manage people.” - Guy Kawasaki
13. “It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead — and find no one there.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt
14. “A leader must have the courage to act against an expert's advice.” - James Callaghan
15. “You can build a throne with bayonets, but you can’t sit on it for long.” - Boris Yeltsin
16. “Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it.” - John Naisbitt
17. “I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” - Mohandas K. Ghandi
18. “Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream.” - Malcolm Muggeridge
19. “I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?” - Benjamin Disraeli
20. “Great leadership does not mean running away from reality. Sometimes the hard truths might just demoralize the company, but at other times sharing difficulties can inspire people to take action that will make the situation better.” - John Kotter
Did I miss a quote you love? Share your favorite humorous inspirational quotes below!
