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John W. Gardner

John W. Gardner Quotes

Author

John W. Gardner was an American author, educator, and social activist. His works covered a range of topics including personal growth, leadership, and public affairs. Gardner is known for his profound insights and belief in the potential of human beings.

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All People Ifs Excellence Individual Leader Men Education Purpose Values Belief Community Creativity Educational Leadership Learning Pay Two World Affluent Believe

Famous John W. Gardner Quotes

“Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the next county. Some find strength in eloquence, some in judgment, some in courage.”

Form Next Leadership Quality Leader Style Quiet Judgment Diverse Eloquence County Finding Strength

Author:John W. Gardner

“Leaders develop their styles as they interact with their constituencies. They move toward the style that seems most effective in dealing with the mixture of elements that make up their constituencies.”

Seems Moving Leader Style Elements Mixtures

Author:John W. Gardner

“All that we know about the interaction between leaders and constituents or followers tells us that communication and influence flow in both directions; and in that two-way communication, nonrational, nonverbal, and unconscious elements play their part.”

Knows Way Two Play Leader Influence Communication Elements Flow Unconscious Followers Interaction Two Ways Constituents Nonverbal

Book:Leadership: An Overview

Source: Leadership: An Overview

“The ablest and most effective leaders do not hold to a single style; they may be highly supportive in personal relations when that is needed, yet capable of a quick, authoritative decision when the situation requires it.”

May Decision Situation Leader Style Needed Capable Relation Supportive

Author:John W. Gardner

“One generalization that is supported both by research and experience is that effective two-way communication is essential to proper functioning of the leader-follower relationship.”

Way Two Leader Communication Essentials Research Followers Two Ways Generalization

Book:LEADERSHIP PAPERS/3: THE HEART OF THE MATTER LEADER-CONSTITUENT INTERACTION

Source: LEADERSHIP PAPERS/3: THE HEART OF THE MATTER LEADER-CONSTITUENT INTERACTION

“Perhaps the most promising trend in our thinking about leadership is the growing conviction that the purposes of the group are best served when the leader helps followers develop their own initiative, strengthens them in the use of their own judgment, enables them to grow, and to become better contributors.”

Thinking Helping Use Purpose Grows Leader Growing Groups Judgment Conviction Trends Followers Initiative Contributors

Book:LEADERSHIP PAPERS/3: THE HEART OF THE MATTER LEADER-CONSTITUENT INTERACTION

Source: LEADERSHIP PAPERS/3: THE HEART OF THE MATTER LEADER-CONSTITUENT INTERACTION

“A prime function of a leader is to keep hope alive.”

Inspiration Hope Leadership Leader Alive Teaching Function Prime Wrestling Keeping Hope

Author:John W. Gardner

“What leaders have to remember is that somewhere under the somnolent surface is the creature that builds civilizations, the dreamer of dreams, the risk taker. And remembering that, the leader must reach down to the springs that never dry up, the ever-fresh springs of the human spirit.”

Humans Dream Remember Spirit Leader Risk Civilization Creatures Spring Surface Dry Dreamer Human Spirit Risk-taking Dry Up Somewhere Under

Author:John W. Gardner

“If the modern leader doesn't know the facts, he is in grave trouble, but rarely do the facts provide unqualified guidance.”

Ifs Knows Facts Leadership Leader Trouble Modern Graves Guidance Unqualified

Author:John W. Gardner

About the Author

Born: October 8, 1912
Died: February 16, 2002
Known for: Author
Quotes: 84

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People Ifs Excellence Individual Leader Men Education Purpose Values Belief Community Creativity Educational Leadership Learning Pay Two World Affluent Believe

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Books & Sources

Excellence: Can We Be Equal And Excellent Too?Related source material

The Recovery of ConfidenceRelated source material

LEADERSHIP PAPERS/3: THE HEART OF THE MATTER LEADER-CONSTITUENT INTERACTIONRelated source material

Leadership: An OverviewRelated source material

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