We, the officers and NCOs, owe it to the men that we command and to our country that we make ourselves fit to lead the best soldiers in the world, that in peace the training we give them is practical, alive and purposeful, and that in war our leadership is wise, resolute and unselfish.

More quotes by Field Marshal Sir Bill Slim

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"Leadership is of the spirit, compounded of personality and vision: its practice is an art. Management is of the mind, more a matter of accurate calculation, of statistics, of methods, timetables and routine; its practice is a science. Managers are necessary; leaders are essential."

- Field Marshal Sir Bill Slim

Leadership

"In the British Army there are no good units and no bad units – only good and bad officers and NCOs. They make or break the unit."

- Field Marshal Sir Bill Slim

Leadership

"I had a sort of a motto, “No details, no paper, and no regrets.”"

- Field Marshal Sir Bill Slim

Leadership

"Unselfishness, as far as you are concerned means simply this – you will put first the honour and interests of your country and your regiment; next you will put the safety, well-being and comfort of your men; and last – and last all the time – you will put your own interest, your own safety, your own comfort."

- Field Marshal Sir Bill Slim

Leadership

"Leadership is that mixture of example, persuasion and compulsion which makes men do what you want them to do. If I were asked to define leadership, I should say it is the ‘Projection of Personality’. It is the most intensely personal thing in the world, because it is just plain you."

- Field Marshal Sir Bill Slim

Leadership

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"Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Leadership

"Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually translate into leadership ability."

- Harvey Mackay

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"Everyone talks about building a relationship with your customer. I think you build one with your employees first."

- Angela Ahrendts

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"Leaders can let you fail and yet not let you be a failure."

- Stanley McChrystal

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"An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage."

- Jack Welch

Leadership