22 Quotes & Sayings By Tom Rath

Tom Rath is the author of the international bestseller The 7 Secrets of Highly Effective People. He has taught people how to live longer, be happier, and feel more successful at work since 1983. He is also the founder of Rath Research LLC, which provides research on motivation, leadership, and performance management for companies around the globe.

1
If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything. Tom Rath
2
Although individuals need not be well-rounded, teams should be. Tom Rath
3
The key to human development is building on who you already are Tom Rath
4
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 you're gone Tom Rath
5
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. Tom Rath
6
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. Tom Rath
7
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 Tom Rath
8
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. Tom Rath
9
When we build on our strengths and daily successes – instead of focusing on failures – we simply learn more. Tom Rath
10
Instead of celebrating what makes each child unique, most parents push their children to "fit in" so that they don't "stick out." This unwittingly stomps out individuality and encourages conformity, despite these parents' good intentions Tom Rath
11
What's 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. Tom Rath
12
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. Tom Rath
13
You cannot be anything you want to be - but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are. Tom Rath
14
Every human being has talents that are just waiting to be uncovered. Tom Rath
15
Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort. Tom Rath
16
I've 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. Tom Rath
17
When your boss and colleagues care enough to invest in your health, it is good for you and the business. Tom Rath
18
I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality. If it's not realistic, sincere, meaningful, and individualized, it won't do much good. Tom Rath
19
Wanting a more positive environment isn't enough. You need to do something, and it doesn't require a great deal of effort or some huge change in the way you approach things at work. Tom Rath
20
There's a conventional wisdom that says that strategic thinking is much more important than relationship building, which doesn't seem to be nearly as highly valued as it should be, based on what some of the leaders that I've spoken with have said to me. Tom Rath
21
When we look at what has the strongest statistical relationship to overall evaluation of your life, the first one is your career well-being, or the mission, purpose and meaning of what you're doing when you wake up each day. Tom Rath