Colin Powell

Leaders honor their core values, but they are flexible in how they execute them.

Colin Powell

Leadership is all about people. It is not about organizations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people-motivating people to get the job done. You have to be people-centered.

Colin Powell

Leadership is solving problems.

Colin Powell

Maybe we don’t put our young people in situations often enough where they’re allowed to fail. When you fail, that’s how you gain experience, and hopefully with enough experience, you don’t fail as often, although I haven’t proven that point yet.

Colin Powell

My own experience is that you get as much information as you can and then you pay attention to your intuition, to your informed instinct.

Colin Powell

Never neglect details. When everyone’s mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant.

Colin Powell

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Colin Powell

The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them.

Colin Powell

The essence of leadership is building bonds of trust in your organization.

Colin Powell

The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best.

Colin Powell