"As leaders we do not create growth. The best we can do is create an environment that is conducive to growth. It is like planting a garden. You do not cause the seeds to grow. To grow is their natural purpose in life."
About James Hunter
James Hunter — Life and Legacy
James Hunter is a prominent leadership consultant and author, best known for his influential book 'The Servant'. This work presents a transformative approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of serving others and cultivating character. Hunter's core philosophy revolves around the idea that effective leadership is not about authority but about influence and integrity. He asserts, 'Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less,' which encapsulates his belief that true leaders inspire and motivate through their actions and values rather than their titles. Hunter's insights challenge conventional leadership paradigms by promoting the concept of servant leadership, where the leader's primary role is to serve their team. This approach fosters a culture of trust and collaboration, essential for resilience in the face of challenges. His teachings encourage leaders to focus on the growth and well-being of their team members, which ultimately leads to a more engaged and productive organization. The relevance of Hunter's ideas continues to resonate today, as organizations seek leaders who can navigate complexities with empathy and ethical grounding. His quotes inspire individuals to reflect on their leadership styles and the impact they have on others, reinforcing the notion that character is the cornerstone of effective leadership.
Quote collection
James Hunter quotes (page 1 of 2)
37 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Leadership: The skill of influencing people to work enthusiastically toward goals identified as being for the common good."
"Leadership is not about personality, possessions, or charisma, but all about who you are as a person. I used to believe that leadership was about style but now I know that leadership is about substance, namely character."
"...leaders who do not hold their people accountable to a set standard are, in effect, thieves and liars. Thieves because they are stealing from the stockholder who pays them to hold people accountable, and liars because they pretend that everything is OK with their people when in fact everything is not OK."
"Authority: The skill of getting people to willingly do your will, because of your personal influence."
"Serving others breaks you free from the shackles of self and self-absorption that choke out the joy of living."
"Who then is the greatest leader? The one who has served the most."
"Power: The ability to force or coerce someone to do your will, even if they would choose not to, because of your position or your might."
"To have a healthy and thriving business, there must be healthy relationships with the C.E.O.S. in the organization and I'm not referring to the Chief Executive Offficers. I am talking about the Customers, the Employees, the Owner (or stockholders), and the Suppliers."
"Forgiving behavior is dealing with situations as they arise in an assertive manner and then letting go of any lingering resentment. As the leader, if you are not able to let go of the resentment, it will consume you and render you ineffective."
"There is great joy in leading with authority, which is serving others by meeting their legitimate needs."
"Those who follow the crowd will never be followed by the crowd."
"INTENTIONS + ACTION = WILL"
"A seagull manager is one who periodically flies into the area, makes a lot of noise, dumps on the people, maybe eats their lunch, and flies away."
"Authority cannot be bought or sold, given or taken away."
"INTENTIONS - ACTION = SQUAT"
"(A manager) once confided in me she liked to picture in her mind's eye that every employee was wearing one of those sandwich billboard signs. On the front side, the sign would read 'Appreciate Me' and on the back side 'Make Me Feel Important.'"
"we must never forget that people buy into the leader before they buy into a mission statement."
"...while everyone's focusing on keeping the boss happy, who's focusing on keeping the customer happy?"
"Power people are generally threatened by authority people."