This is one of my favorite Leadership definition quotes I have seen over the years. I have converted it to non military below:
LEADERSHIP
“…To get the best from a British Soldier, step down from the pedestal on which rank puts you and walk easily among the men, relying on your own personality and respect you have earned from them to give you your superior position. That means steering a delicate course between treating those under you as equals in humanity if inferiors in status, and losing their respect by becoming one of them. You must deal with them sympathetically and at times interpret the law in the spirit and not the letter, but you have equally to be jealous of your position and never allow leniency to be looked upon as a weakness, or friendship to degenerate into familiarity. You have, in short, to discriminate between those who would appreciate your interest and those foolish enough to impose on your good nature.”
Sidney Rogerson – Coy Comd West Yorks Regt, France 1916
LEADERSHIP
“…To get the best from your employees, step down from the pedestal on which management puts you and walk easily among the organisation, relying on your own personality and respect you have earned from them to give you your superior position. That means steering a delicate course between treating those under you as equals in humanity if inferiors in status, and losing their respect by becoming one of them. You must deal with them sympathetically and at times interpret the law in the spirit and not the letter, but you have equally to be jealous of your position and never allow leniency to be looked upon as a weakness, or friendship to degenerate into familiarity. You have, in short, to discriminate between those who would appreciate your interest and those foolish enough to impose on your good nature.”
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