Adonis Diaries

THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP QUOTES OF ALL TIME – WITH PERSONAL AFFIRMATIONS

Dan Rockwell. December 16, 2020

Alan Alda:

“Real listening is a willingness to let the other person change you.” Alan Alda

1. I will enter conversations open to learning and willing to adapt (if it suit my behavior?).
2. The way I see things is ONE way of seeing them (A single way, with option to retract in the other direction?).
3. I’m willing to change my perspective (Not matching the Silent Majority “common sense”?).
4. My need to be right makes me stupid (As long as you are doing the right thing?).

Daniel Kahneman:

“Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it” Daniel Kahneman (For how long to think about it to make it Not that important?)

1. I will overcome the distraction of urgencies by reconnecting with the big picture (Beyond the Big Bang?).
2. I will maintain curiosity with calmness when stress increases. (Curiosity is the key to feel alive, calmly or angrily)
3. I will rest, enjoy family and friends, and take time for self-development, even during a pandemic (Because of Covid-19).
4. I won’t belittle the important concerns of others. And I won’t try to solve everyone’s concerns. (As if we ever cared to resolving other people concerns)

Peter Drucker:

“It is more productive to convert an opportunity into results than to solve a problem – which only restores the equilibrium of yesterday.” Peter Drucker (An opportunity that does Not require solving anything?)

1. I see a negativity bias in myself that requires adjusting (How much effort to recognize the various kinds of biases?).
2. I will view situations and interactions through the lens of opportunity. (How about the lens of experimental minded designs?)
3. I will maintain a positive attitude. (Not in the face of injustices and unfair practices and elite laws)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

“When we take people merely as they are, we make them worse; when we treat them as if they were what they should be, we improve them as far as they can be improved.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Review the practices of all those missionaries who ruined ethnic civilizations and culture)

1. I will view people through the lens of who they might become. (But Not try to intervene)
2. I will maintain optimism while working to develop myself and others. (As if we can achieve anything when depressed)
3. I will acknowledge the limitations of myself and others. (Just focus on your limitations and spare us judging others)

Warren Bennis:

“Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult.” Warren Bennis (Too convoluted to make sense of this quote)

1. I will spend time in self-reflection today. (And tomorrow?)
2. I have the capacity for self-deception. I will seek feedback. (Feedback from whom?)
3. I will bring my best self in service to others. (what if the others consider your “best self” as one of your limitations?)

What quote might you add to the list of most important leadership quotes of all time? (Forget about this horrendous leadership mind-fix. Learn to confront injustices)