Reflections on leadership

From miscellaneous notes jotted down during the early months of 2008:

• If you want ordinary people to do extraordinary things, learn to deal with what is inside them. What are their dreams? What are their aspirations? What are their hopes and fears? Leaders can inspire only to the degree that they understand the aspirations of those whom they lead. Leadership is basically the art of relating with and tapping the energy of aspirations.
  
• A leader does not complain about lack of support from his followers. It is the leader's task to gain the required support. To the extent that he complains, he ceases to be a leader.
  
• A culture of blaming indicates an absence of leadership, or the presence of leaders who blame circumstances.
  
• What you can do alone is limited. What you can do with a team is unlimited.