Leadership Lessons from a Previous Pastor – Part 2

Yesterday I posted several quotes from my previous pastor and professor. After digging a little more I found a ton more quotes. I thought about scheduling them to tweet out over the next several weeks but decided to just put them on all here.

These are quotes I heard from Gary Grey either in my pastoral leadership class or at the church he pastored.

For Part 1 of this post click here.

• The man who follows the crowd will never be followed by a crowd.
• Leadership only functions on the basis of trust.
• All great leaders have one common spiritual gift – faith.
• When you are through improving you are through.
• A person that is successful has simply formed the habit of doing things that unsuccessful people will not do.
• You will never be a leader unless you first learn to follow and be led.
• You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.
• There are two ways to raise the level of leadership in your organization; train them and trade them.
• There are no victories at bargain prices.
• If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.
• You can not push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb a little.
• People support what they help create.
• A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.
• In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves … self-discipline with all of them came first.
• To lead people walk behind them.
• It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
• A leader is anyone who has two characteristics: first, he is going somewhere; second, he is able to persuade other people to go with him.
• The boss says, “Go” – the leader says, “Let’s go.”
• A good leader is a guy who can step on your toes without messing up your shine.
• We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit.
• Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
• Leadership is both something you are, and something you do.
• The only person that can stop you from becoming what God intends for your life is you.
• A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.
• You’re only as good as the people you hire.
• He that cannot obey cannot command.
• There are two quick ways to disaster: taking nobody’s advice and taking everybody’s advice.
• Leadership is production, not position.
• A great leader comes along about once in a generation and great problems come along about three times a week.
• One of the burdens of leadership is to be unpopular when necessary.
• In times like these it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.
• Outstanding leaders appeal to the hearts of their followers, not their minds.
• Leaders walk the talk.
• Leadership means not having to be completely in harmony with everyone else.
• The nose of the bulldog has been slanted backwards so that he can breathe without letting go.
• A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibility.
• The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.
• If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind.
• You do not lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.
• The successful leader is the one who makes the right move at the right moment with the right motive.
• When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, “We did it ourselves.”
• The leader who sells principles for popularity will soon become bankrupt.
• It isn’t the people you fire who make your life miserable, it’s the people you don’t.
• One test of leadership – turn around and see if anyone is following you.
• If you pay peanuts, expect to get monkeys.
• It is wonderful when the people believe in their leader, but it is more wonderful when the leader believes in the people.
• The first step to leadership is servanthood.
• If a leader demonstrates competency, genuine concern for others, and admirable character, people will follow.
• There is no security on this earth – only opportunity.
• The question is not, “How much does this person work,” but “How much does this person accomplish?”
• Leadership is getting people to help you when they are not obligated to do so.
• Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
• Pay now, play later; play now, pay later.
• Present choices determine future consequences.
• Even eagles need a push.
• The first rule of winning – don’t beat yourself.
• People tend to stay motivated when they see the importance of the things they are asked to do.
• He that won’t be counseled can’t be helped.
• Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
• There is a great different between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves the problem.
• Some people change jobs, mates and friends, but never think of changing themselves.
• The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
• Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
• People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.
• Get the tide up and all the boats will rise.
• If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint a committee on snakes.
• The person who cannot see the ultimate becomes a slave to the immediate.
• The greatness of a leader is in his humility before God, not in his eloquence before men.