Leadership is an Art

The art of leadership is about liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible.

Leadership is an art, something to be learned over time, not simply by reading books. Leadership is more tribal than scientific, more a weaving of relationships than an amassing of information.

In our effort to understand corporate life, in addition to all of the ratios and goals and parameters and bottom lines, it is fundamental that leaders endorse a concept of persons. This begins with the understanding of the diversity of people's gifts and talents and skills.

Understanding and accepting diversity enables us to see that each of us is needed. It also enables us to begin to think about being abandoned to the strengths of others, of admitting that we cannot know and do everything.

The simple act of recognizing diversity in corporate life helps us connect the great variety of gifts that people bring to the work and service in the organization. Diversity allows each of us to contribute in a special way, to make our special gift a part of the corporate effort.

Source: Leadership is an Art, Max Depree