By John Hunter, author of the Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog.
What is a leader? As I use the term here, the job of a leader is to accomplish transformation of his organization. He possesses knowledge; he himself has been transformed. He has personality and persuasive power. How may he accomplish transformation? First he has theory. He understands why the transformation would bring gain to his organization and to all the people that his organization deals with, the customers, suppliers, environment. Second, he feels compelled to accomplish the transformation as an obligation to himself and to his organization. Third, he is a practical man. He has a plan, step by step.
From a presentation at Ford Motor Company in 1992. Page 181, The Essential Deming: Leadership Principles from the Father of Quality
Related: Dr. Deming on Leadership – Change has to Start from the Top, Webcast with David Langford –
Circle of Influence – How to Get a New Management Strategy, Tool or Concept Adopted