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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 must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.

I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.

One of the toughest things for leaders to master is kindness. Kindness shares credit and offers enthusiastic praise for others' work. It's a balancing act between being genuinely kind and not looking weak.

The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.

A leader must be a good listener. He must be willing to take counsel. He must show a genuine concern and love for those under his stewardship.

A good leader should focus on making sure everyone is being given the tools to do their job, not just expecting - poof! - that they're going to produce great work.

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.

Great leaders help their people see how they can directly impact the company's objectives and their own personal goals.

In the end, as a leader, you are always going to get a combination of two things: what you create and what you allow.