---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Employees work smarter and better when…"
description: "\"“Employees work smarter and better when they believe they have more decisionmaking authority and when they believe their colleagues are committed to th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png"
---

#  Employees work smarter and better when they believe they…

![“Employees work smarter and better when they believe they have more decisionmaking authority and when they believe their colleagues are committed to their success. A sense of control can fuel motivation, but for” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png)

> ““Employees work smarter and better when they believe they have more decisionmaking authority and when they believe their colleagues are committed to their success. A sense of control can fuel motivation, but for””

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People perform better when they feel empowered and supported, as autonomy boosts motivation and collaboration reinforces success.

**In simple terms:** Control and support improve performance.

Key Takeaway

Give employees authority and foster teamwork.

Themes

motivation autonomy collaboration leadership

Mood

optimistic professional

Type

advice leadership

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- project planning
- performance reviews
- employee onboarding

Key Concepts

psychology organizational behavior empowerment

Questions to Reflect On

- How does autonomy affect accountability?
- What support structures reinforce empowerment?

A Different Perspective

Authority without clear direction can cause confusion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-colleagues-4664790/) [Believe Decisionmaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-decisionmaking-5803990/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Smarter Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smarter-better-1708822/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-sense-5238148/) [Work Smarter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-smarter-274352/)

## Related quotes

> [I believe in myself, I believe in my players. My target is to try to get them to believe in themselves and believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-carvalhal/i-believe-in-myself-i-believe-in-my-players-my-target-is-to-try-to/)

[Carlos Carvalhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-carvalhal/)

> [A strange side effect of sudden success is the sense that if you can succeed in one field, then it might well be worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/a-strange-side-effect-of-sudden-success-is-the-sense-that-if-you-can/)

[Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/)

> [Trying to be smarter, work smarter, and just take care of my body more and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-johnson/trying-to-be-smarter-work-smarter-and-just-take-care-of-my-body-more/)

[Calvin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-johnson/)

> [“Increase individual productivity by increasing capability, not by urging people to work harder. “Work smarter, not harder” means that we have to help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/increase-individual-productivity-by-increasing-capability-not-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I need to work smarter, harder, faster, and longer than you. And if I still don't come out in front, then simply changing directions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-need-to-work-smarter-harder-faster-and-longer-than-you-and-if-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I was taught to work hard. I learned to work smarter. Not everyone gets this privilege.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/i-was-taught-to-work-hard-i-learned-to-work-smarter-not-everyone-gets/)

[Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/)

> [“To truly work smarter instead of harder, embrace what you love. When you're passionate about your work, it transforms into an invigorating pursuit rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-baker/to-truly-work-smarter-instead-of-harder-embrace-what-you-love-when/)

[Robin S. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-baker/)

> [Surround yourself with amazingly intelligent men and women. The people I work with not only are smarter than I am, possessing both intellectual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/surround-yourself-with-amazingly-intelligent-men-and-women-the-people/)

[George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/)

> [We don't need more government, we just need the government we have to work smarter and more efficiently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/we-don-t-need-more-government-we-just-need-the-government-we-have-to/)

[Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/)

> [I always try to do the most important or urgent tasks first, I avoid waiting till the last minute to finish things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeet-banerjee/i-always-try-to-do-the-most-important-or-urgent-tasks-first-i-avoid/)

[Jeet Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeet-banerjee/)

> [WOrk Smarter...:P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyane/work-smarter-p/)

[Wyane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyane/)

> [“Chuck the luck. Work smarter than harder, for success doesn’t happen just by chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/chuck-the-luck-work-smarter-than-harder-for-success-doesn-t-happen/)

[Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/)

> [“How can performance be improved? Sweat and longer hours are not the answer but will be employed if no one knows how to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-womack/how-can-performance-be-improved-sweat-and-longer-hours-are-not-the/)

[James P. Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-womack/)

> [You'll never go wrong when you work with someone smarter than you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-kalman/you-ll-never-go-wrong-when-you-work-with-someone-smarter-than-you/)

[Tibor Kalman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-kalman/)

> [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/)

[Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/)

## More by Charles Duhigg

> [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

[Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## More Motivation quotes

> [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/)

[Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/)

[Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is like riding on a bus. God is the driver and I am the passenger. Have faith God knows which route to take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefroy-hanson/life-is-like-riding-on-a-bus-god-is-the-driver-and-i-am-the-passenger/)

[Jefroy Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefroy-hanson/)

> [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/)

[Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

[Browse all 14,479 Motivation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Employees work smarter and better when they believe they have more decisionmaking authority and when they believe their colleagues are committed to their success. A sense of control can fuel motivation, but for”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Duhigg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-they-believe-they-have-more/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Motivation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-they-believe-they-have-more/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/charles-duhigg-1088_motivation_employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-t_2364975.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Employees work smarter and better when they believe they have more decisionmaking authority and when they…” — Charles Duhigg",
                "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": "Charles Duhigg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Employees work smarter and better when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-they-believe-they-have-more/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/employees-work-smarter-and-better-when-they-believe-they-have-more/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
