Leaders On Leadership: 10 Valuable Lessons That Will Make You Think

Malin Leschly, Chief Design Officer at Logitech, asks the simple question, “Tell me more,” nearly ... More every day to make sure she doesn't miss out on surprising insight.
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In the last eight years as a Forbes columnist, I have interviewed leaders who have shared a great deal of insights on successful leadership. Here are 10 quotes on leadership that illuminate the concrete actions that successful leaders "do," not just "think" or "believe." These quotations are from leaders with a variety of backgrounds and business sectors — tech, finance, design, education, and research — but one thing that rings true through all their perspectives — successful leadership is about connection.
Leaders On Leadership: Innovation
“Engaging with a wide range of perspectives enables us to have a greater mental agility — a mental algorithm that’s much more flexible, subtle and nuanced. It’s actually a hugely enriching and exciting place to be, if you can embrace it.” — Ann Morgan is an author, speaker and editor, who took the initiative to expose herself to new points of view by reading a book from every country in the world – within one year. She documented her journey on her website A Year of Reading Around The World. Her work speaks to the power of embracing what you don’t know.
“Good ideas can come from anywhere. And it’s very important to listen, because only then will you pick up the good ideas.” — Malin Leschly, Chief Design Officer at Logitech, asks the simple question, “Tell me more,” nearly every day to make sure she doesn’t miss out on surprising insight. Learn more from Leschly in this interview.
Leaders who value innovation understand the importance of listening. Being in tune with possibilities means training yourself to have an open mindset. Leaders with an open mindset proactively expose themselves to ideas, people, readings, philosophies, etc., that are unfamiliar — and even incomprehensible. Engaging with ideas and strategies that are unfamiliar is the best way to stay on the cutting edge. Don’t feel insecure if you don’t understand something. Ask questions and explore instead.