Lean Quote: Good Leaders vs Great Leaders

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Good leaders build products. Great leaders build cultures. Good leaders deliver results. Great leaders develop people. Good leaders have vision. Great leaders have values. Good leaders are role models at work. Great leaders are role models in life."   —  Adam Grant   

What differentiates a great leader from good leader?

Great leaders are not just ‘better’ than good leaders. They are a class apart. They inspire to learn and grow, spread positive energy, uproot complacency, and can turn an unproductive group into a blooming one with their effective and powerful personality.

Being a good leader requires you to have your own set of qualities that give you the ‘good’ title.

Good leaders often work toward protecting the current state of affairs. They keep the good ideas going, work around them, and witness gradual growth.

Great leaders, on the other hand, are game-changers. They innovate, generate ideas of their own, and make them work.

You will be lucky to work with great leaders as they motivate you to become one. Talking about the differences, the following are the stark differences between a good and great leader:

Good Leaders Tell You What They Can Do and Great Leaders Make You Realize What You Can Do

Great leaders have magnetic personalities. They make you feel better about yourself, and who does not like to be accompanied by people of this nature?

Leaders who impress you with their capabilities and knowledge are good. The ones who have the ability to make you feel better are considered to be great.

Good Leaders Will Have the Right Attitude, and Great Leaders Make Friends

A good leader comes out to be bigger than life, having huge responsibilities and a different lifestyle.

On the other hand, you will be able to relate to a great leader. They will be someone you can trust and call your friend and do not show the difference between themselves and you, and they work towards diminishing the gap between them and their team.

Good Leaders Say, Great Leaders Make You Believe

Good leaders will tell you that you are doing great, and a great one will appreciate you and motivate you to do even better.

There is no learning limit with great leaders. They are focused on your growth, learning, and efficiency, along with the company’s targets.

Actions of trust and respect by a great leader make people feel included and important.

A great leader goes beyond just managing the team—they inspire, motivate, and create a high-performance culture that drives lasting success.