Wednesday Wisdom: Max DePree

Today’s “Wednesday Wisdom” comes from Max DePree, who said, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant.” Leaders, I’ve found are often good at the first and last. Having a vision is often what inspires us to become leaders. After we achieve our goals? If we’re any kind of a decent person, we will take time for gratitude. But as I speak and write about all the time, it’s that in-between time that really makes great leaders. The servant leader’s reality is defined every day, and that leads to multiple rewards.