QuoteProject
A manager is not a person who can do the work better than his men; he is a person who can get his men to do the work better than he can.
Frederick W. Smith
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

A good manager excels at empowering and enabling their team rather than outpacing them in work performance.

This quote emphasizes the essence of effective leadership, which lies not in the ability to outperform one's subordinates, but in cultivating their strengths and guiding them to achieve superior results. It highlights that successful management is about fostering a collaborative environment where team members feel motivated and capable, ultimately leading to better overall performance.

Themes

LeadershipManagementTeamworkEmpowermentSuccess

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a leadership training workshop to illustrate the key qualities of a good manager.

More from Frederick W. Smith

Leadership is simply the ability of an individual to coalesce the efforts of other individuals toward achieving common goals. It boils down to looking after your people and ensuring that, from top to bottom, everyone feels part of the team.
Frederick W. SmithRead
Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.
Frederick W. SmithRead
If you look historically, what creates growth and wealth is innovation and investment, and increase in scale - more customers.
Frederick W. SmithRead
Information about the package is as important as the package itself.
Frederick W. SmithRead

Similar quotes

There is nothing fast or easy about diplomacy. I have no illusions about that.
Hillary ClintonRead
I think right now we need to look back at the founding values of our country. Rise above partisanship, be less bitter when it comes to important matters that have to be solved.
Walter IsaacsonRead
It is essential to understand that battles are primarily won in the hearts of men. Men respond to leadership in a most remarkable way and once you have won his heart, he will follow you anywhere.
Vince LombardiRead
As commanders and staff officers, we are coaches and sentries for our units: how can we coach anything if we don't know a hell of a lot more than just the TTPs?
Jim MattisRead
In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.
Sandra Day O'ConnorRead
I think we are afraid to take up space. We are afraid to be amazing. As soon as that fear leaves us and we start building that confidence of being unapologetic about being great, then i think we can get into that space of having a lot of women leaders who are just fearless.
Zozibini TunziRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.