‘You can’t go against your image of yourself and what you think is right without feeling bad. It’s counter to your purpose- the picture you have of yourself as an ethical person.’

Your own image of yourself is your inner self. It hurts when you go against it. If you want to achieve success, take care of your inner self.

‘If as a leader you can give up being right and learn to apologize for your mistakes, your organization will be a better place for people to work.’

It takes courage to apologize for anything, small or big. But if you can do it, your people will do anything for you. Because it shows that you care about them, that you respect them as human beings.

‘Today’s leaders must relearn the value of a smile or they will be unable to fire up the ability of their people to find real enjoyment in their work. So start thinking smiles until you become a smile millionaire.’

Happy people attract other happy people. People are more likely to perform well when they are with a happy manager than when they are with an unhappy manager. If your people are not happy, maybe they are not happy with the way you are leading them. Don’t assume, ask them.

‘Work is something you have to do; play is something you choose to do.’

‘To avoid the rat race and stay on course, we must honor our inner selves. The only way to do that is to seek out times of solitude when we can be alone with the voice that says, ‘You are loved and valuable person.’

Successful people honor their inner selves. They listen. Unsuccessful people don’t honor their inner selves. Guess what? If you don’t listen to your inner self, you will never know who you are. And if you do not know who you are, the world will give you something that belongs to someone else.

‘Be your own best friend and believe in yourself. Don’t wait for someone to do it for you.’

When it comes to your success, you have got to start the game. Because leadership starts with you. If you can lead yourself, you can lead other people.

‘Test the power of listening for yourself by taking the time to listen and focus on others.’

The best way to know what your people are going through, what they are not telling you, is to listen to them.

‘If you want to know why your people are not performing well, step up to the mirror and take a peek.’

‘Don’t send your people off on their own with no experience and then punish them when they make mistakes. Establish boundaries that will free them to make decisions, take initiatives, act like owners, and stay on track.’

When your people make mistakes, let them know that they have just created more learning opportunities for themselves.

‘When you judge someone, it impairs your ability to see him or her clearly.’

If you don’t want other people to judge you, then why are you doing it?

‘When a learner makes a mistake, be sure that he or she knows immediately that the behavior was incorrect. Place the blame on yourself by saying, Sorry, I didn’t make it clear.’

Do you have the courage to say, ‘I am sorry?’ If you do, you are a true leader. Congratulations!!!!

‘When you know what you stand for, you can turn around on a dime and have five cents change.’

Do you know what you stand for? If you don’t know what you stand for, you won’t be able to lead yourself to greatness.

Source:

Ken Blanchard (1999). The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence