The greatest leadership principle that I have learned in over twenty-five years of
leadership is that those closest to the leader will determine the success level of that
leader. A negative reading of this statement is also true: Those closest to the leader will
determine the level of failure for that leader. In other words, the people close to me
“make me or break me.” The determination of a positive or negative outcome in my
leadership depends upon my ability as a leader to develop those closest to me. It also
depends upon my ability to recognize the value that others can give my organization and
me. My goal is not to draw a following that results in a crowd. My goal is to develop
leaders who become a movement.