“Whatever the source of the leader's ideas, he cannot inspire his people unless he expresses vivid goals which in some sense they want. Of course, the more closely he meets their needs, the less "persuasive" he has to be, but in no case does it make sense to speak as if his role is force submission. Rather it is to strengthen and uplift, to make people feel that they are the origins, not the pawns, of the socio-political system.”

David C. McClelland in: Robert A. Portnoy (1986), Leadership: what every leader should know about people. p. 16

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David C. McClelland 16
American psychological theorist 1917–1998

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