Quote

If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it - young or old, successful or less-than-successful, unknown or famous - is changed by it.

Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery.

Good leaders need to be able to connect to all of those around them. This is especially true at Whole Foods, where we have a very team-oriented culture.

Leaders should be collaborative, modest, and generous.

Followers need to see how things will get better and what that future might look like. Leaders need to build that foundation of stability, and hope sits on top of that.

Though there are lessons that can be learned about becoming a great leader, most exist inherently in the bellies of those who lead.

People look for their leadership to lead.

One of the lessons of leadership worth emphasizing is that you want to get to know other great leaders and take their advice. At some point in your development, it's only people who've been in the seat of having to be leaders who can help you in a deep way.

Leadership is influence.

To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you, and nobody wants to follow someone who doesn't know where he is going.