QuoteProject
You can't talk your way out of something you behaved your way into. You have to behave your way out of it.
Douglas Conant
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

One must take responsibility for their actions rather than try to justify them through words.

This quote emphasizes the importance of accountability in our actions. It suggests that merely explaining or talking about a situation is insufficient to remedy the consequences of one’s behavior; instead, one must take proactive steps to correct and amend their actions to truly resolve the issue at hand.

Themes

AccountabilityActionsBehaviorResponsibilityChange

In practice

Example use cases

During a team meeting, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of taking ownership of mistakes.

More from Douglas Conant

Most people think of leaders as being these outgoing, very visible, and charismatic people, which I find to be a very narrow perception. The key challenge for managers today is to get beyond the surface of your colleagues. You might just find that you have introverts embedded within your organization who are natural-born leaders.
Douglas ConantRead
You have to talk about mistakes and then talk about what you have learned and how to move forward. You acknowledge missteps right away, you deal with them, and you move ahead.
Douglas ConantRead
Trust gives you the permission to give people direction, get everyone aligned, and give them the energy to go get the job done. Trust enables you to execute with excellence and produce extraordinary results. As you execute with excellence and deliver on your commitments, trust becomes easier to inspire, creating a flywheel of performance.
Douglas ConantRead
Too many leaders are so caught up in the momentum of work that they lose sight of the opportunity to connect with people. I discovered that the more fully present I was with other people, the more fully present they were with me, and the more productive our relationship became over time.
Douglas ConantRead
Often leaders have the best intentions, but people cannot read their minds. That's why it's important to declare yourself: Tell people why you choose to lead and the code you live by.
Douglas ConantRead
The time to build a network is always before you need one.
Douglas ConantRead

Similar quotes

My mind, I know, I can prove, hovers on hummingbird wings. It hovers and it churns. And when it's operating at full thrust, the churning does not stop. The machines do not rest, the systems rarely cool. And while I can forget anything of any importance--this is why people tell me secrets--my mind has an uncanny knack for organization when it comes to pain. Nothing tormenting is ever lost, never even diminished in color or intensity or quality of sound.
Dave EggersRead
Pray thee, spare, thyself at times: for it becomes a wise man sometimes to relax the high pressure of his attention to work.
Thomas AquinasRead
As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy.
Sun TzuRead
Without faith a man can do nothing; with it all things are possible.
William OslerRead
The mark of a master is to select only a few moments, but give us a lifetime.
Robert MckeeRead
While I'm dreaming, Wake up screaming, Cuz I can hear them suckas scheming.
Tupac ShakurRead

A little wisdom, now and then

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

Quote by Douglas Conant | QuoteProject