Quotes by Tom Rath

If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.

Although individuals need not be well-rounded, teams should be.

the key to human development is building on who you already are

Perhaps the ultimate test of a leader is not what you are able to do in the here and now - but instead what continues to grow long after youre gone

What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time.

The lesson here is clear: If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have meaning that is specific to each individual.

followers have a very clear picture of what they want and need from the most influential leaders in their lives: trust, compassion, stability, and hope

If we can find short-term incentives that are consistent with our long-term objectives, it is much easier to make the right decisions in the moment.

When we build on our strengths and daily successes — instead of focusing on failures — we simply learn more.

Instead of celebrating what makes each child unique, most parents push their children to fit in so that they dont stick out. This unwittingly stomps out individuality and encourages conformity, despite these parents good intentions

Whats more, we had discovered that people have several times more potential for growth, when they invest energy in developing their strenghts instead of correcting their deficiencies.

The most successful people start with dominant talent—and then add skills, knowledge, and practice to the mix. When they do this, the raw talent actually serves as a multiplier.

You cannot be anything you want to be - but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.

Every human being has talents that are just waiting to be uncovered.

Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.

Ive seen so many people - loved ones and colleagues - who jump from one diet to the next, one exercise regimen to the next . I was trying to figure out what were some of the basic things that each of us can build into a lifestyle for good, instead of bouncing from one thing to the next.

When your boss and colleagues care enough to invest in your health, it is good for you and the business.

I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that youre infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality. If its not realistic, sincere, meaningful, and individualized, it wont do much good.

Wanting a more positive environment isnt enough. You need to do something, and it doesnt require a great deal of effort or some huge change in the way you approach things at work.

Theres a conventional wisdom that says that strategic thinking is much more important than relationship building, which doesnt seem to be nearly as highly valued as it should be, based on what some of the leaders that Ive spoken with have said to me.