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Colin Powell

Colin Powell Quotes

Former United States Secretary of State

Colin Powell, born on April 5, 1937, is a former United States Secretary of State known for his significant contributions to American politics and the military. He served as the National Security Advisor and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell is renowned for his exceptional leadership and diplomatic skills, becoming the first African American Secretary of State in U.S. history.

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Famous Colin Powell Quotes

“I have seen many organizations where there is this sense of purpose in the headquarters but it never gets cascaded down to everybody within the organization.”

Purpose Organization Headquarters

Author:Colin Powell

“The best leaders are those who break that mission down into the organization's constituent parts, so that everybody understands their role and how it all builds into the whole.”

Whole Leader Roles Break Organization Missions Constituents Best Leader

Author:Colin Powell

“One important element of leadership is taking care of the troops.”

Important Care Elements Troops

Author:Colin Powell

“First you train the followers to accomplish the mission. Second, you resource them: Make sure that they have the tools to do the job. Third, you reward them: You give them medals or bonuses.”

Giving Firsts Jobs Resources Tools Thirds Train Rewards Accomplish Missions Followers Medal Bonus

Author:Colin Powell

“An organization that is not facing up to people who are not getting the job done, is going to have difficulties.”

People Done Jobs Organization Difficulty

Author:Colin Powell

“We are not trapped in what the science of management says we can do. We are capable of doing what the art of leadership says is possible.”

Art Can Do Capable Management Trapped

Author:Colin Powell

“The great leaders that I have worked with are people who have a good sense of empathy with other people. They can walk a factory floor, or walk through a battalion and smell if there's something wrong.”

People Ifs Walks Leader Empathy Smell Factories Great Leader Good Sense

Author:Colin Powell

“You have to create circumstances where your first-tier leader knows what you are trying to accomplish, because he is the one who's going to get it done.”

Knows Trying Firsts Done Leader Circumstances Accomplish Get It Done

Author:Colin Powell

“I have always admired the Linking Pin theory of management specialist Rensis Likert. It says that in every organization there are leaders who link the lower level to the upper level. What makes somebody an effective link as a leader is that he conveys down everything that above wants and he conveys up everything that below needs.”

Want Needs Levels Leader Theory Organization Management Links Pins Specialists

Author:Colin Powell

“I have never seen a good organization where the standards weren't high.”

Standards Organization Good Organization

Author:Colin Powell

“The troops may whine and moan, but when they meet the standard, there's a sense of pride.”

May Pride Standards Troops

Author:Colin Powell

“Nobody wants to be in a mediocre organization. You don't have the same energy flowing through.”

Want Energy Organization Mediocre

Author:Colin Powell

“I don't think anyone would disagree with the conclusion that Saddam [Hussein] was a terrible dictator. He had gassed his own people and his neighbors. He had killed thousands of people, and he had started a couple of wars and destroyed his country.”

People Thinking War Country Couple Terrible Neighbor Conclusion Destroyed Disagree Dictator Saddam Hussein

Author:Colin Powell

“Our failure was that our intelligence community thought [Saddam Hussein ] had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction. That was a mistake. There is fallibility in human intelligence and in human decisions.”

Humans Community Decision Mistake Weapons Mass Destruction Saddam Hussein Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Human Intelligence Fallibility Intelligence Community

Author:Colin Powell

“The information that the intelligence people used was a combination of satellite information, signals intelligence, and human intelligence. We are not sure to what extent Saddam [Hussein] was trying to convey an incorrect picture to us.”

People Trying Humans Used Information Combination Not Sure Signals Saddam Hussein Satellites Human Intelligence

Author:Colin Powell

“We are not sure to what extent Saddam's [Hussein ] own people were conveying an incorrect picture to him. But this body of evidence was believed not only by President George W. Bush. President Bill Clinton used that same body of intelligence before bombing Iraq in 1998.”

People Body Used President Evidence Bills Clinton Iraq Not Sure Saddam Hussein Bombing Conveying President George W Bush President Bill Clinton

Author:Colin Powell

“I think that military, corporate, and non-political organizations are pretty much similar.”

Thinking Political Military Organization Corporate Non Political

Author:Colin Powell

“Politics is different, because the mission is always to get the necessary votes. A good politician goes through everything in terms of mission and vision, and resourcing, but at the end of the day politicians have to make compromises in order to achieve consensus.”

Different Ends Order Term Vision Achieve Politician Vote Missions Compromise The End Of The Day Consensus Mission And Vision Good Politicians

Author:Colin Powell

“How often have we seen politicians take a principle position only to give it up three days later? That is what makes democracy so fascinating.”

Giving Three Principles Democracy Position Politician Fascinating

Author:Colin Powell

“One thing the military does far better than business is train its own leaders. I can't go to IBM and hire a battalion commander. They don't have any.”

Doe I Can Leader One Thing Military Train Commanders Ibm

Author:Colin Powell

“In my 35 years in the army I was in school for 6 years. I think corporations should take a look at whether they are investing enough in the development of their human capital.”

Thinking Should Years Humans Looks Enough School Development Army Investing Corporations

Author:Colin Powell

“I think leadership is both a trained thing and a natural gift.”

Thinking Natural Natural Gifts

Author:Colin Powell

“Some people naturally have a sense of empathy and an understanding of how to bring their followers to do things. They become great politicians.”

People Understanding Politician Empathy Followers

Author:Colin Powell

“I think you can improve on that natural ability with training and exposure to great leaders of the past and to management theories.”

Thinking Past Natural Ability Leader Theory Training Management Exposure Great Leader Natural Ability

Author:Colin Powell

“I went to graduate school as a lieutenant colonel after I had been in the army for 12 or 13 years. I learned so much from all the great management theorists. It gave me a greater understanding of my army experience and showed me the gaps in my knowledge.”

Years School Understanding Greater Army Management Great Men Gaps Graduates Theorists Graduate School Colonels Lieutenants Great Management

Author:Colin Powell

“I worked with the Nato Military Committee. The Head of the Luxembourg Armed Forces had equal standing with me, and I had to respect that. He was the leader of the armed forces of a sovereign country. I had to make sure he never thought that I was looking down on them, merely because they had less power than we did. With that kind of approach you can develop bonds of trust. I tried to do the same thing with my colleagues when I was Secretary of State.”

Kind Country States Force Leader Military Equal Approach Standing Secretary Committees Sovereign Colleagues Nato Armed Forces Looking Down

Author:Colin Powell

“There is no question about the fact that we had very serious disagreements with my German, French, and Russian colleagues over the Iraq war. But I never stopped talking.”

War Facts Talking Serious Iraq Colleagues Disagreement Iraq War

Author:Colin Powell

“How can we be enemies when there is so much that pulls us together? But in general I found that I had to work with each one of my foreign colleagues in a way that was consistent with their system. Some are democracies, some are not.”

Way Together Found Enemy Democracy Consistent Colleagues

Author:Colin Powell

“Another rule I have is: Don't let your ego get tied up in a policy dispute. Otherwise, if things don't go your way, you can end up breaking a relationship with somebody with whom you can't afford to break.”

Ifs Way Ends Break Policy Ego Tied Disputes Tied Up

Author:Colin Powell

“I regret that the presentation I made at the UN turned out to be wrong. It was wrong on the stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, but pretty much right on intentions and capabilities.”

Made Regret Weapons Mass Destruction Intention Capability Presentation Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction I Regret

Author:Colin Powell

“Everybody makes bad decisions. I am sure I have made my share of them over 40 years of service. Or I have made good decisions and have been overruled. The real challenge, when you are overruled, is to remember who the boss is and don't take it personally.”

Years Has Beens Made Real Remember Challenges Decision Share Boss Bad Decision Good Decision Years Of Service

Author:Colin Powell

“Decision-making is lonely.”

Decision Lonely Decision Making

Author:Colin Powell

“Being in charge sometimes means making people mad. Some days you have to overrule even the best advice, because you think it is not right.”

People Thinking Mean Sometimes Advice Mad Best Advice

Author:Colin Powell

“Almost invariably, whoever doesn't win the argument is going to be unhappy.”

Winning Argument Unhappy

Author:Colin Powell

“If everybody trusts one another, then the person who didn't prevail will faithfully execute the decision as if it was their idea.”

Ifs Persons Ideas Decision

Author:Colin Powell

“That's why the army sends all its future generals to what we call "charm school." As soon as you are a general, people think that you know everything. You think yourself that you have become omniscient and omnipotent. Be careful, because people want to do everything they can to please the general, and you need to guard against this.”

People Thinking Knows Want Needs School Please Army Careful Charm Be Careful Omnipotent Omniscient

Author:Colin Powell

“You have to comply, you have to obey - or you'd better resign and leave. But that is also the mark of a great leader - somebody who, in the presence of inner conflict, will do the right thing.”

Leader Conflict Mark Right Thing Great Leader Inner Conflict

Author:Colin Powell

“Great leaders are those who are able to look reality in the face, however painful it may be, and deal with it.”

Looks May Reality Able Faces Deals Leader Painful Great Leader

Author:Colin Powell

“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”

Hard Dream Reality Inspiration Motivational Successful Magic Military Hard Work Succeed Determination Army Persistence Sweat Successful People Dreams Come True Follow Your Dreams Dreams Do Come True Dreams And Reality Hardwork Hardworking Determination And Success Will And Determination Just A Dream Determination Motivational Small Dreams Pursue Your Dreams Motivational Work Hard Work Pays Off Determination Perseverance Determination And Persistence Working Life Believe In Your Dreams Work To Be Done Great Determination Inspirational Determination Life Dream Dream Reality Following My Dreams Inspirational Dream Hardwork And Determination Sweat And Tears Hard Work Success True Dreams Hard Work Motivational Life Determination Courage And Determination Life And Dreams Inspirational Hard Work Motivation And Hard Work Hard Work And Success Dreams Can Come True Hard Work And Determination Amazing Job Famous Hard Working Dedication And Determination Hard Work And Persistence Determination By Famous People Luck And Hard Work Blood And Sweat Results Of Hard Work Strong Determination

Author:Colin Powell

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

Life Inspirational Hard Motivational Success Results Business Secret Successful Hard Work Failure Succeed Optimism Entrepreneur Perseverance African American Preparation Hard Times Cheer Business Success Success In Life Fear Of Failure Recipe For Success Best Work Success And Failure Learning From Mistakes Student Success Exam Success Failure Motivational Business Secret To Success Succes Determination And Success Will And Determination Overcoming Failure Failure Inspirational Hard Work Pays Off Learn From The Past Best Business Greatest Leadership Learning From Failure Will To Succeed Failure Motivational No Failure Fear Of Success Inspiring Business Succeeding In Life Hardwork And Determination Past Failures Hard Work Success Hard Work Comes Success Inspirational Hard Work Motivation And Hard Work Quality In Business Hard Work And Success Secret Of My Success Hard Work And Determination Dreaming And Success Preparation And Opportunity Hard Work And Persistence Inspirational Wisdom Journey To Success Results Of Hard Work Exam Success Hard Journey

Author:Colin Powell

“Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”

Source: My American Journey

“Don't let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn't go with it.”

Ifs Political Politics Business Emotion Military Position Ego Shots Strategic Management

Author:Colin Powell

“Get mad, then get over it.”

Life Wise Military Anger Management Angry Mad Rage Moving On Over It Get Over Anger Management Unleashing Rage And Anger Angry Words Getting Over It Anger And Pain Words Of Anger

Book:It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership

Source: It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership

“Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard.”

“But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.”

Writing Country Moving Constitution Compromise African American Sooner Or Later Consensus Philadelphia

Author:Colin Powell

“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.”

Source: My American Journey

“I think whether you're having setbacks or not, the role of a leader is to always display a winning attitude.”

Thinking Winning Attitude Leader Roles Display Setback Winning Attitude Temporary Setbacks

Author:Colin Powell

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”

Inspirational Political Force Inspiring Attitude Military Positive Positive Thinking Politician Optimism Army Strategy Productivity Optimistic Positive Attitude Perpetual Stay Positive

Book:My American Journey

Source: My American Journey

“Don't bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself.”

People Trying Firsts Helping Problem Solve Bother

Author:Colin Powell

“Fit no stereotypes. Don't chase the latest management fads. The situation dictates which approach best accomplishes the team's mission.”

Situation Team Fit Approach Management Accomplish Missions Stereotype Fads Inspirational Team

Author:Colin Powell

About the Author

Born: April 5, 1937
Known for: Former United States Secretary of State
Quotes: 355

Related Topics

People Leader Thinking Ifs Military World Should War Way Country

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

My American JourneyRelated source material

It Worked for Me: In Life and LeadershipRelated source material

It Worked for Me (Enhanced Edition): In Life and LeadershipRelated source material

A Soldier's Way: An AutobiographyRelated source material

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