Tom Peters authored the best-selling book, In Search of Excellence in 1982, yet it still has a following today.  In this book, he spoke of the attributes of companies that had achieved a level of excellence or differentiation from others.  Peters is a frequent speaker at conferences and meetings and has a number of things to say about companies, management, leadership, and career development that apply to us today:

1. “Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.” – Notice the difference between managing and leadership according to Peters.  Leadership is always about people, not things.  Leadership influences, not directs.  Management gets obedience; leadership gets partnership.  Which gets you to respond better?

2. “Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” – Notice the goal of leaders — to create more leaders.  A good leader does not seek to attain a following.  A good leader seeks results that are sustainable and not dependent upon them.  Are we intentionally creating more leaders?

3. “The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.” – Do you function best in an environment that drives to attain a goal or one in which the leader appreciates, nurtures, and enhances you?  Are we intentionally creating that type of environment?  What can you do in your sphere of influence?

4. “I think it’s wonderful to save the world, but you need to be part of the world, too.” – The context of this quote was that Peters spent much of his life trying to save the world, but, in the process, missed out on life’s simple pleasures and did not realize it until it was too late.  We need to realize that some opportunities in life come only once and we may not get a second chance.

5. “A passive approach to professional growth will leave you by the wayside.” – Here, Peters speaks about the need to manage your own career.  If we leave it up to someone else to guide our career, find our next opportunity, develop our skills, or influence others, we will not attain all that we could if we take responsibility ourselves.

What is Peters saying to you today?  Have an awesome one!