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To inspire leadership, we’ve collected some quotes from famous leaders. These quotes help us understand what makes a good leader stand out from a great one. You can share these quotes with your team and managers when they need a boost of motivation.
We at Qualtrics have found these quotes meaningful, and we hope you do too.
Powerful leadership Quotes
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
Take charge of your future by making decisions today. - “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek
A good leader supports and cares for their team. - “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Believe in yourself to achieve great things in the future. - “Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.” – Brian Tracy
Focus on solving problems, not just talking about them. - “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
Keep going, even when things get tough. - “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Think wisely and act with empathy. - “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell
Lead by example and guide others with your actions. - “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” – Warren Bennis
Turn your ideas into actions and results. - “You don’t have to be in charge to be a leader.” – Unknown
Leadership can come from any position, not just the top. - “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan
Inspire others to achieve great things.
- “A leader is someone who demonstrates what’s possible.” – Mark Yarnell
Show what can be done through your own actions. - “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader
Help others develop their own leadership skills. - “Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” – William Butler Yeats
Create your own opportunities through hard work. - “Leadership is not about being the best. It’s about making everyone else better.” – Unknown
Help others improve and succeed. - “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
Passion for your work leads to excellence. - “You don’t lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Lead with respect and understanding, not force. - “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader
Cultivate leadership in others. - “A leader is a dealer in hope.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
Provide encouragement and optimism to others. - “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” – Ray Kroc
Set high standards for yourself to inspire others. - “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Balance your thinking and caring in leadership. - “You do not find the happy life. You make it.” – Camilla E. Kimball
Create your own happiness through your actions. - “Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.” – Unknown
Make an impact on others’ lives. - “A good leader takes a little more than their share of the blame, a little less than their share of the credit.” – Arnold H. Glasow
Be responsible and humble in leadership. - “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” – Sheryl Sandberg
Leave a lasting positive influence on others. - “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek
Focus on serving and supporting your team. - “A leader is someone who can adapt to any situation and guide others through it.” – Unknown
Be flexible and supportive in different situations. - “Great leaders are willing to sacrifice their own personal interests for the good of the team.” – John Wooden
Put the team’s needs above your own. - “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
Begin your leadership journey now to become great. - “Leadership is not about being the best. It’s about making everyone else better.” – Unknown
Strive to improve those around you. - “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan
Inspire others to achieve their best. - “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell
Lead by example and guide others effectively. - “The function of leadership is to create more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader
Encourage others to take on leadership roles. - “The best leaders are those who inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more.” – John Quincy Adams
Motivate others to reach their full potential. - “Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.” – Seth Godin
Provide opportunities for others to share their ideas. - “The best way to lead is by example.” – Unknown
Demonstrate the behavior you want to see in others. - “Leadership is not about being the best. It’s about making everyone else better.” – Unknown
Focus on helping others improve and succeed. - “A leader is someone who can adapt to any situation and guide others through it.” – Unknown
Be adaptable and supportive in all situations. - “True leadership lies in guiding others to success, ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are passionate about.” – Bill Owens
Help others excel in their passions. - “A leader is a person you will follow to a place you would not go by yourself.” – Joel Barker
Guide others to new and better opportunities. - “A good leader is not the one who does all the work but the one who gets the best out of others.” – Unknown
Inspire others to do their best work. - “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek
Support and look after your team. - “A great leader is someone who can bring people together and motivate them to achieve common goals.” – Unknown
Unite and inspire people to work towards shared goals. - “The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” – Ken Blanchard
Lead through influence rather than control. - “A leader must have a vision. It is the leader’s job to make that vision a reality.” – John C. Maxwell
Turn your vision into achievable goals. - “Leadership is not about being the best. It’s about making everyone else better.” – Unknown
Focus on improving others. - “A leader is one who inspires others to believe in themselves and their abilities.” – Unknown
Encourage self-confidence and growth in others. - “A true leader does not create followers but creates more leaders.” – Tom Peters
Develop leadership skills in those around you. - “The true measure of leadership is how well you can leave others feeling empowered and inspired.” – Unknown
Ensure others feel motivated and valued. - “Good leaders are not born. They are made.” – Vince Lombardi
Leadership skills can be developed through effort and practice. - “Leadership is not a position or a title, it is action and example.” – Unknown
Lead through your actions and the example you set.
leadership quotes FAQs
What is a great leadership quote?
"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the best out of the people." – Ronald Reagan
What is a true leader quote?
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." – John C. Maxwell
What are 10 positive quotes?
What is a famous quote for leadership?
"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." – Ralph Nader
What is the best line for leaders?
"Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge." – Simon Sinek
What is a good student leadership quote?
"Leadership is not about being the best. It is about making everyone else better." – Unknown
What is a famous quote for leadership?
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." – Peter Drucker
What is a good quote for a leader?
"A leader is one who can adapt to any situation and guide others with vision and confidence." – Unknown
What is an inspiring quote for a boss?
"The best bosses inspire others to reach their full potential and lead by example." – Unknown
