Max de Pree People Quotations

Innovation is the lifeblood of an organization. Knowing how to lead and work with creative people requires knowledge and action that often goes against the typical organizational structure. Protect unusual people from bureaucracy and legalism typical of organizations.

We see a decline of civility, and, sadly, it’s often modeled by the very people from whom we have the least right to expect it.

The leader is the servant who removes the obstacles that prevent people from doing their jobs.

The simple act of recognizing diversity in corporate life helps us to connect the great variety of gifts that people bring to the work and service of the corporation.

If you want the best things to happen in corporate life you have to find ways to be hospitable to the unusual person. You don't get innovation as a democratic process. You almost get it as an anti-democratic process. Certainly you get it as an antithetical process, so you have to have an environment where the body of people are really amenable to change and can deal with the conflicts that arise out of change an innovation.

Leadership is liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible.