What's your favorite leadership quote from a CURRENT military leader?

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 09:58:24 -0400

Leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose,
direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the
organization...What CURRENT leader(s) has provided you purpose, direction, and motivation by what they've said?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 9 at 2016 10:05 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 10:05:58 -0400

SGM Matthew Quick thanks for the post. General Powell

LESSON ONE
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."
Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. It's inevitable if you're honourable. Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity: You'll avoid the tough decisions, you'll avoid confronting the people who need to be confronted, and you'll avoid offering differential rewards based on differential performance because some people might get upset. Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying not to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally "nicely" regardless of their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll wind up angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 9 at 2016 10:21 AM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 10:21:22 -0400

I don't run a democracy. I train troops to defend democracy and I happen to be their surrogate father and mother as well as their commanding general. Alfred M. Gray

Kind of sums up the holy trinity of commanding the Marines whose blood we may be called upon to spill, God love them.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Apr 9 at 2016 12:10 PM

SFC Stephen King — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 12:10:49 -0400

Leadership requires maintenance like all ships; It is your job to provide the tools for others to exceed the standard. Unknown

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2016 9:26 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 09:26:51 -0400

From a current leader? I'd have to go with "PT may not be the most important thing you do that day, but it is the most important thing you do every day," from SMA Dailey. Doesn't directly touch on leadership, but it does distinguish between "most important today" and "most important every day," so not only is the SMA talking about PT, he's talking about priorities, which is a major part of leadership.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2016 12:30 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 12:30:41 -0400

There are two types of people in this world, those who say and those who do and you have to decide which you are going to be..Cecil Archbold(My Dad)

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 4 at 2019 9:18 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 09:18:29 -0400

I could have said, this any better! This in essence what leading is all about!