Business leadership has traditionally been conceived as the profile of the person holding an executive position in a company—whether in planning, organizing, directing, or controlling. But what used to be inherent to management has, in recent years, become more about a skill not everyone possesses or develops. It defines professionals (executives or not) who can be followed by their peers for their performance rather than their title or position in the organization.

A commonly accepted characteristic of leadership is the element of hidden work. In the words of Nelson Mandela, a leader is “like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most skillful animals go ahead while all the others follow, unaware that they are actually being guided from the rear.”

Below are a series of reference quotes to inspire leadership and foster the development of competitive teams: 16 quotes to keep in mind.

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“Innovation distinguishes a leader from a follower.”
— Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done and his goal fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
— Lao Tzu, philosopher

“Many people have gone further than they thought because someone else believed they could.”
— Zig Ziglar, motivational writer

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat

“Leaders think and talk about solutions. Followers think and talk about problems.”
— Brian Tracy, author and speaker

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their staff.”
— Sam Walton, founder of Walmart

“Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.”
— Seth Godin, entrepreneur and professor

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”
— Max De Pree, writer

“Leadership is the capacity to turn vision into reality.”
— Warren Bennis, leadership consultant

“In the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”
— Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft

“Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through arguments, debates, or doubts to offer a solution anyone can understand.”
— Colin Powell, military officer and politician

“Wild ducks follow the leader of their flock by the way he flies, not by the strength of his quack.”
— Chinese proverb

“Focus on people and people will focus on business.”
— John Calvin Maxwell, coach

“No man who wants to do everything alone or take all the credit for doing it will be a good leader.”
— Andrew Carnegie, businessman

“Example is not the main thing influencing people. It is the only thing.”
— Albert Schweitzer, philosopher

“A good leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes them where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”
— Rosalynn Carter, diplomat