A leader is best when people barely know that he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worst when they despise him. Fail to honor people, They fail to honor you. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aims fulfilled, they will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The best leader is barely noticed, not praised, and despised; when people feel they achieved something themselves, they honor the leader.
- In plain terms
- Great leaders work quietly and empower others.
- What can you take from it?
- Lead by enabling others to feel ownership of success.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is a visible leader necessary?
- How can you measure if people feel they did it themselves?
Another view
Some contexts demand visible leadership and explicit direction.
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