Individuals involved in the management of a laboratory animal resource play a crucial in responsible animal care and use. Because a good program of animal care and use is multi-faceted, the routine of the laboratory animal manager/administrator has the potential to be extremely busy. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, animal procurement, husbandry, regulatory compliance, personnel management, teaching, and administration. Depending on the size of the facility and/or number of investigators, the pace can be overwhelming, particularly to the novice. Managing the pace is a key factor in effective management. To do this effectively requires leadership. In this regard, leadership is best accomplished through following a sound set of principles. These principles, referred to as personal leadership, provide the framework with which to lead the program.