Wizwords 018-E: " A meeting with a remarkable leader" -

Series: Wizwords in Leadership n° 018-E

Main Menu published: 2001

" A Meeting with a Remarkable Leader "

A short note about a leader's way of perceiving and behaving

by Jean-Pierre Bal

Some time ago I had a surprising meeting with a senior executive of a large corporation. When I asked him which principles and values he cherished the most in leadership, he showed me a reference document. He could easily recall from whom he received it, but the author or source of the document are unknown.

He commented it as follows : " I try to follow most of these views on perception and behavior. It is some sort of mixture of humanism, religion, philosophy, whatever... I don't really care where it comes from. Sometimes it's very hard to apply, some of it is obviously questionable, but in the essence it provides me with a sense of commitment and responsibility that clears a major stumbling block in a a leader's path: self-centeredness, or self-importance...that is a major cause of failure of some leaders, you know... I read it again, every so often... It also helps in keeping one's mind free from tunnel-vision, or from loss of vision beyond the daily activities, another cause of executive failure..."

I'm quite impressed by his particular way of perceiving things and his behavior towards people. He is quite a remarkable leader. Here are these words of wisdom...

People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish intentions or ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today, will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and straightness can make you vulnerable to some people.

Be honest and straight anyway.

Big people with big ideas can be shot down by little people with little ideas.

Think big anyway.

People tend to favor underdogs, but will follow only top-dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People sometimes need help, but may attack you if you do help them.

Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and you will get kicked in the teeth.

Give the best you have anyway.

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