John W. Gardner, On Leadership, Quotes

A collection of quotes by John W. Gardner, On Leadership, .

John W. Gardner was an American writer, educator, and public servant, known for his influential work on leadership. Born in 1912, he served as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Gardner authored several books, including "On Leadership," which became a seminal work in the field. He emphasized the importance of ethical leadership, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for shaping a better society. Gardner's ideas continue to inspire and guide leaders across various domains. He passed away in 2002, leaving behind a legacy of insightful perspectives on leadership and public service.

Although leadership and the exercise of power are distinguis

Although leadership and the exercise of power are distinguishable activities, they overlap and interweave in important ways. Consider a corporate chief executive officer who has the gift for inspiring and motivating people, who has vision, who lifts the spirits of employees with a resulting rise in productivity and quality of product, and a drop in turnover and absenteeism. That is leadership. But evidence emerges that the company is falling behind in the technology race. One day with the stroke of a pen the CEO increases the funds available to the research division. That is the exercise of power. The stroke of a pen could have been made by an executive with none of the qualities one associates with leadership.

John W. Gardner, On Leadership,

Leadership