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About this quote

What does it mean?
Being responsible can involve making decisions that upset others.
In plain terms
Responsibility sometimes means irritating people.
What can you take from it?
Accept that leadership may cause friction.

Where it applies

  • making unpopular policies
  • enforcing rules

Putting it to work

  • communicate reasons clearly
  • prepare for criticism

Questions to consider

  • When have you felt responsible but unpopular?
  • How can you balance duty and harmony?

Another view

People may resist even justified actions.

More from Colin Powell

  1. 'Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.'

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  2. 'If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.'

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  3. 'Many of my generation, the career captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels seasoned in that war [Vietnam], vowed that when our turn came to call the shots, w…

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