Max Owen De Pree (1924–2017) was an American business executive and an author of leadership books. He was the CEO of the Herman Miller office furniture company 1980–87 and served on its board of directors until 1995. De Pree grew the Zeeland, Michigan-based small family-owned business into the second-largest furniture maker in the world.
De Pree was born in Zeeland, Michigan, to D. J. De Pree, founder of Herman Miller. After serving in World War II, De Pree graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College. He and his brother Hugh De Pree assumed leadership of the company in the 1960s. Hugh became CEO and president in 1962. Max succeeded his brother as the company’s leader in 1980 and served as CEO until 1987, continued to be a member of the company’s Board of Directors until 1995.
Max De Pree is the author of four books: Leadership is an Art (2011,) Leadership Jazz (2008,) Dear Zoe (1996,) and Leading Without Power (1997.) His books have sold more than a million copies in more than 20 languages around the world. De Pree is celebrated for establishing the practice of such leadership concepts as servant leadership and inclusive capitalism.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Max De Pree
We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet; and amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog has made an alliance with us.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Animals, Dogs
Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do. The visible signs of artful leadership are expressed, ultimately, in its practice.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Leadership
Only a group of people who share a body of knowledge and continually learn together can stay vital and viable.
—Max De Pree
Leadership is liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Leadership
Leaders don’t inflict pain—they share pain.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Leaders, Leadership
The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers. Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they change with grace? Manage conflict?
—Max De Pree
Topics: Leadership
Sometimes we think we’re a little too gifted to show up, you know. But none of us truly is…By avoiding risk we really risk what’s most important in life—reaching toward growth, our potential, and a true contribution to a common good.
—Max De Pree
We can teach ourselves to see things the way they ARE. Only with vision can we begin to see things the way they CAN BE.
—Max De Pree
Notice I did not say what people can do—what we can do is merely a consequence of what we can be.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Humanity, Leadership, Art
In the words of Max DePree: “Management has a lot to do with answers. But leadership is a function of questions. And the first question for a leader always is: ‘Who do we intend to be?’ Not ‘What are we going to do?’ but ‘Who do we intend to be?'”
—Max De Pree
Topics: Sin, Questions, Management, Leadership, Good, Business, Zen
Channeled correctly and integrated properly, our diversity can be our greatest strength.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Leadership
We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Growth
In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Leadership, Growth, Change, Inspirational
A team of giants needs giant pitchers who throw good ideas but every pitcher needs an outstanding catcher. Without giant catchers, the ideas of the giant pitchers may eventually disappear.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Baseball
We talk about the quality of product and service. What about the quality of our relationships and the quality of our communications and the quality of our promises to each other?
—Max De Pree
The greatest thing is, at any moment, to be willing to give up who we are in order to become all that we can be.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Being True to Yourself
I don’t come with the wheelchair. The wheelchair comes with me.
—Max De Pree
The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader.
—Max De Pree
Topics: Responsibility, Leadership, Inspirational
Earning trust is not easy, nor is it cheap, nor does it happen quickly. Earning trust is hard and demanding work. Trust comes only with genuine effort, never with a lick and a promise.
—Max De Pree
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Lloyd Alexander American Writer
Robert Kiyosaki American Businessperson
A. Alfred Taubman American Businessman
Tim Ferriss American Self-help Author
John C. Maxwell American Christian Professional Speaker
Sheryl Sandberg American Executive, Author
Jack Welch American Businessperson
Howard Schultz American Businessman
Donald Trump American Businessperson, Head of State
Harold S. Geneen American Businessman