Leading Thoughts for August 21, 2025

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with:

I.

Richard Daft on reflection:

“Reflection is also a choice: that of thoughtful wisdom over instant reaction. The idea of reflection is to find deeper understanding of cause-and-effect relationships, because organizational problems often are more complex than they look. Things move so fast that often you may not know what you really think or feel about an issue. Reflection makes your mind proactive rather than reactive.”

Source: The Executive and the Elephant: A Leader's Guide for Achieving Inner Excellence

II.

Antony Bell on humility:

“Humility rests firmly on the foundation of self-awareness. Humility generates two qualities: a thirst for personal growth and a healthy dose of self-discipline. Requires a certain measure of humility to recognize what you don’t know and an equal measure to want to keep on learning. Humility recognizes that greatness requires work, and work requires self-discipline. Great leaders work hard, and, most of all, they work hard on themselves.”

Source: Great Leadership: What It Is and What It Takes in a Complex World

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Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index.

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Posted by Michael McKinney at 03:23 PM
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