“Leadership” means different things to different people and there are many styles and manifestations of leadership.

Here are some of my favourite quotes about leadership.

“It’s important to remember that when you get caught up in day-to-day operations, like many, we tend to focus more on repairing what is wrong than optimizing what is good and strong. The underestimated truth is that we will all get a much better return in our organizations by focusing on strengths over weaknesses.”

Odilon Almeida

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

John Quincy Adams

I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.

Queen Elizabeth II

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.

Nelson Mandela

Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.

Colin Powell

To me, leadership is about encouraging people. It’s about stimulating them. It’s about enabling them to achieve what they can achieve – and to do that with a purpose.

Christine Lagarde