Quotessence
Home / Authors / Warren G. Bennis
Warren G. Bennis

Warren G. Bennis Quotes

Author

Filter quotes by topic

AllLeaderLeadershipPeopleManagementOrganizationGroupsKnowsVisionInspirationalGreat Leader

Famous Warren G. Bennis Quotes

“Organizations have to come to grips with the fact that tests of adaptive capability aren't always pleasant. Learning can be a powerful emotional event, and organizations have to be cognizant of that. They must understand that those who complete high-quality executive education programs are going to see the organization with fresh eyes after they return. Those who re-enter the workplace filled with new enthusiasm and new ideas often find a chilly response on the part of their supervisors.”

IdeasFactsEyePowerfulQualityEventsEmotionalReturnProgramTestsOrganizationFilledResponseEnthusiasmPleasantExecutivesCapabilityNew IdeasWorkplaceHigh QualityAdaptiveChillySupervisorsCognizant
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“The American Heritage Dictionary defines crucible as "a place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces; a severe test of patience or belief; a vessel for melting material at high temperatures." A crucible was the vessel in which medieval alchemists attempted to turn base metals into gold. That the alchemists inevitably failed in their audacious attempts doesn't denigrate the power of the crucible as a metaphor for the circumstances that cause an individual to be utterly transformed.”

PoliticalTurnsIndividualBeliefForceSocialCausesPowerfulSituationEconomicMaterialsCircumstancesIntellectualGoldTestsMetaphorHeritageMetalsTransformedSevereVesselDictionaryTemperatureMedievalMeltingAlchemistCrucibleAudaciousConfluence
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“The crucible is a dividing line, a turning point, and those who have gone through it feel they are very different from the way they were before. Believing that they have been transformed or have transformed themselves, those who survive the crucible (and many don't) are more confident, more willing to take future risks. That new self-confidence is grounded in the belief that he or she has done something hard and done it well.”

WayFeelsBelieveWellsHas BeensDifferentSelfHardDoneBeliefLinesGoneRiskWillingSelf ConfidenceTransformedGroundedTurning PointsDividingCrucibleNew Self
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“Every one of the geezers who continues to play a leadership role has one quality of overriding importance: neotony. The dictionary definition is that neotony, a zoological term, involves "the retention of youthful qualities throughout old age." It is more than merely retaining a youthful appearance, although that is often part of it. Neotony is the retention of all those wonderful qualities that we associate with youth: curiosity, playfulness, eagerness, fearlessness, warmth, energy.”

PlayAgeEnergyTermQualityRolesWonderfulYouthImportanceCuriosityDefinitionsAppearanceOld AgeWarmthAssociatesDictionaryFearlessnessEagernessPlayfulnessRetainingRetentionLeadership Roles
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“In the face of ambiguity, uncertainty, and conflicting demands, often under great time pressure, leaders must make decisions and take effective actions to assure the survival and success of their organizations. This is how leaders add value to their organizations. They lead them to success by exercising good judgment, by making smart calls when especially difficult and complicated decisions simply must be made, and then ensuring that they are well executed.”

WellsMadeActionFacesValuesDifficultDecisionLeaderExerciseDemandJudgmentSurvivalSmartOrganizationPressureAddComplicatedUncertaintyAmbiguityGreat TimesGood Judgment
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“Leading with character gives the wise leader clear-cut advantages. They are easier to trust and follow; they honor commitments and promises; their words and behavior match; they are always engaged in and by the world; they are open to "reflective backtalk": they can speak with conviction because they believe in what they are saying...and everyone else knows that. They are comfortable in their own skin. They feel at ease in the spotlight and they enjoy it there. They tend to be more receptive to opportunity and risk.”

KnowsWorldGivingFeelsBelieveCharacterOpportunitySpeakEnjoyLeaderClearWiseCuttingRiskHonorEasierPromiseBehaviorComfortableCommitmentAdvantageSkinsConvictionEaseEngagedSpotlightReceptiveWise Leaders
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”

InspirationalRealityMotivationalLeadershipAbilityLeaderVisionAuthorityCapacityTranslateGreat LeaderVisionariesLeadership TrainingBusiness LeadershipConvertingTrue LeaderBeing A LeaderInspiring LeaderLeadership By Famous LeadersBest LeaderMotivational LeadershipLeadership SkillsDefinition Of LeadershipLeadership By Great LeadersGreatest LeadershipGreat VisionPowerful LeadersLeaders MotivationalVision Of LifeNew VisionSales LeadershipSuccessful LeadersCreative VisionMission And VisionLeadership VisionLeadership And VisionVisionary LeadersClarity Of VisionPersonal LeadershipStrategic LeadershipLeadership In EducationVisionary LeadershipWise LeadersBecoming A LeaderGreatness And LeadershipCommon Vision
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image

“Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery.”

PeopleInspirationalFeelsHeartLeadershipLeaderTeacherRelationshipManagementLeadership DevelopmentHospitalityGreat LeaderGood LeaderGreat LeadershipLeadership By Famous LeadersLeadership And ManagementLeadership SkillsDefinition Of LeadershipGood LeadershipGreatest LeadershipPeripheryGreat PerformancePeripheral Vision
Book:Managing People is Like Herding Cats
Create image

“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born - that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”

PeopleInspirationalMadeFactsMotivationalSuccessCertainBornLeadershipQualityLeaderDangerousDangerOppositesMythFactorsNonsenseLeadership DevelopmentPositive LifeGreat LeaderWorld LeaderTrue LeaderCharismaticBeing A LeaderInspiring LeaderLeadership By Famous LeadersBest LeaderTrue LeadershipMotivational LeadershipLeadership Vs ManagementFuture LeadersLeaders MotivationalFunny LeadershipBorn LeadersSales LeadershipLeadership QualitiesLeadership And ChangeQualities Of A Leader
Author:Warren G. Bennis
Create image