--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think you are leading and turn…" description: "\"If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just taking a walk.\" — Benjamin Hooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png" --- # If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one… ![“If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just taking a walk.” quote by Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png) > “If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just taking a walk.” [Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership requires followers; without them, it's merely walking alone. **In simple terms:** Leadership needs support. Key Takeaway Cultivate followers. Themes leadership community influence Mood thoughtful determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - Organizational leadership - political movements - team projects Key Concepts Social dynamics authority collective action Questions to Reflect On - How to build genuine followership? - What if followers disagree? A Different Perspective Followers may not align with vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) [Empowering others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowering-others/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Following Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-just-1347837/) [Funny leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-leadership/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leading Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-turn-3644861/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Outstanding leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outstanding-leadership/) [Powerful leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-leaders/) [Taking Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-walk-1462259/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Turn Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-following-3603625/) [Turnaround](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnaround/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [Leaders aren't born they are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/leaders-aren-t-born-they-are-made/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-hesburgh/you-can-t-blow-an-uncertain-trumpet/) [Theodore Hesburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-hesburgh/) > [A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witter-bynner/a-leader-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists/) [Witter Bynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witter-bynner/) > [If you think you're a leader and you turn around and no one is following you, then you're simply out for a walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-kouzes/if-you-think-you-re-a-leader-and-you-turn-around-and-no-one-is/) [James M. Kouzes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-kouzes/) > [“Do something with your one life, instead of following others. While just watching your one life pass you by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/do-something-with-your-one-life-instead-of-following-others-while/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [Anybody who thinks that they are a leader and doesn't have anyone following them is just out for a walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-are-a-leader-and-doesn-t-have-anyone/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-fact-that-some-geniuses-were-laughed-at-does-not-imply-that-all/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. And try to find somebody who's life gives them vodka, and have a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/if-life-gives-you-lemons-you-should-make-lemonade-and-try-to-find/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [Leadership is your ability to hide your panic from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/leadership-is-your-ability-to-hide-your-panic-from-others/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Never put off until tomorrow what you can put off forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-plauger/never-put-off-until-tomorrow-what-you-can-put-off-forever/) [P. J. Plauger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-plauger/) > [Never put off till tomorrow what you can do day after tomorrow just as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/never-put-off-till-tomorrow-what-you-can-do-day-after-tomorrow-just/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The question who ought to be boss is like who ought to be the tenor in the quartet? Obviously, the man who can sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-question-who-ought-to-be-boss-is-like-who-ought-to-be-the-tenor/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-good-manager-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists-not-so/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More by Benjamin Hooks > [A good history covers not only what was done, but the thought that went into the action. You can read the history of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/a-good-history-covers-not-only-what-was-done-but-the-thought-that/) [Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) > [We're no longer arguing about riding in the back of the bus, but being the bus driver or the president of the bus company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/we-re-no-longer-arguing-about-riding-in-the-back-of-the-bus-but-being/) [Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) > [The most enduring contributions made to civilization have not been made by brawn, they have been made by brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/the-most-enduring-contributions-made-to-civilization-have-not-been/) [Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) > [Black men who have succeeded have an obligation to serve as role models for young men entrapped by a vicious cycle of poverty, despair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/black-men-who-have-succeeded-have-an-obligation-to-serve-as-role/) [Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) [Explore all 5 Benjamin Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) ## More Being a leader quotes > [A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/a-good-general-not-only-sees-the-way-to-victory-he-also-knows-when/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/i-never-thought-in-terms-of-being-a-leader-i-thought-very-simply-in/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Being consistent meant not departing from convictions already formulated; being a leader meant making other persons accept these convictions. It was a narrow track,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/being-consistent-meant-not-departing-from-convictions-already/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/my-own-definition-of-leadership-is-this-the-capacity-and-the-will-to/) [Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Leadership is possible in all different ways, and in all different areas of life. Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/leadership-is-possible-in-all-different-ways-and-in-all-different/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [A leader leads by example not by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/a-leader-leads-by-example-not-by-force/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/management-is-efficiency-in-climbing-the-ladder-of-success/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [It is the solemn obligation of a leader always to be a leader. Even when - perhaps especially when - you don't feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/it-is-the-solemn-obligation-of-a-leader-always-to-be-a-leader-even/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) > [Being a leader is making the people you love hate you a little more each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/being-a-leader-is-making-the-people-you-love-hate-you-a-little-more/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/somebody-has-to-take-responsibility-for-being-a-leader/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them to set a great example for me, and hopefully I will do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/whether-it-is-with-friends-or-family-i-expect-them-to-set-a-great/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) [Browse all 82 Being a leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just taking a walk.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Hooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-around-to-see-no-one-following/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being a leader" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-around-to-see-no-one-following/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/benjamin-hooks-63432_being-a-leader_if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-ar_2829171.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just taking a walk.” — Benjamin Hooks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Hooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you think you are leading...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-around-to-see-no-one-following/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/if-you-think-you-are-leading-and-turn-around-to-see-no-one-following/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```