During his meetings with other civil rights leaders he would sit patiently and intently listening to everything which was said. He was genuinely concerned with what others believed and considered it important. This in turn made them more inclined to listen to him. Because he was always so intently listening he would invariably be asked to share his thoughts. His words would then come with such profound understanding, clarity of purpose and confidence in the direction he was going, there was little left to be said when he finished.
Great leaders are usually more inclined to listen than to speak.
Therefore, when they do speak it is with greater substance. Great leaders have seldom taken the mantle of leadership for its own sake. True leadership is born out of vision and purpose that is established firmly on the bedrock of conviction and discipline. Leadership is a means and not the end in itself. This is the characteristic which separates the achievers from the dreamers.