--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your task as a leader is to help others…" description: "\"Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to strive only for your own success. If I don't trust your motives, nothing else will matter -b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/david-maister-24034_concern_your-task-as-a-leader-is-to-help-others_2755274.jpg" --- # Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to… ![“Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to strive only for your own success. If I don't trust your motives, nothing else will matter -because my primary concern is your integrity.” quote by David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/david-maister-24034_concern_your-task-as-a-leader-is-to-help-others_2755274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/david-maister-24034_concern_your-task-as-a-leader-is-to-help-others_2755274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/david-maister-24034_concern_your-task-as-a-leader-is-to-help-others_2755274.jpg) > “Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to strive only for your own success. If I don't trust your motives, nothing else will matter -because my primary concern is your integrity.” [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership should prioritize empowering others and maintaining integrity; personal success is secondary. **In simple terms:** Leaders help others succeed and stay trustworthy. Key Takeaway Focus on integrity and team success. Themes leadership integrity empowerment teamwork Mood inspirational serious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - management training - organizational development - coaching - performance reviews Key Concepts trust motivation ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure integrity in leadership? - What steps can you take to empower your team today? A Different Perspective Balancing personal ambition with team focus can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Concern Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern-integrity-3130004/) [Don't trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-trust/) [Help others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-others/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helping others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-others/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-help-2418131/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Motives Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motives-matter-3130006/) [Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries/) [Professionalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professionalism/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) [Trust Motives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-motives-3130005/) ## Related quotes > [“When the people we meet demonstrate that their presence brings value, consideration, or contribution, we are much more likely to be open, trust their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/when-the-people-we-meet-demonstrate-that-their-presence-brings-value/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“one of our key leadership responsibilities is to help people gain vision and strategic clarity in their jobs, careers, and in their business. Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-simpson/one-of-our-key-leadership-responsibilities-is-to-help-people-gain/) [Michael Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-simpson/) > [Trying to be a leader in a sort of very atypical workplace like 'Saturday Night Live' forces you to realize that no one wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/trying-to-be-a-leader-in-a-sort-of-very-atypical-workplace-like/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [A good leader is one who can tell another how to reach his or her potential; a great leader is one who can help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/a-good-leader-is-one-who-can-tell-another-how-to-reach-his-or-her/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) > [Some citizens are so good that nothing a leader can do will make them better. Others are so incorrigible that nothing can be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/some-citizens-are-so-good-that-nothing-a-leader-can-do-will-make-them/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [What the Sozo session leader must do is to help open their minds, hearts and spirits to another method of connecting with God. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-banks/what-the-sozo-session-leader-must-do-is-to-help-open-their-minds/) [Jim Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-banks/) > [When a team is relegated, a new leader can help turn the page at a club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/when-a-team-is-relegated-a-new-leader-can-help-turn-the-page-at-a-club/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [More than any other factor, it is the people we have to deal with that determine the quality of our work lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/more-than-any-other-factor-it-is-the-people-we-have-to-deal-with-that/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [No one can manage you if you don't give them permission to do so. But if you are interested in accomplishing as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/no-one-can-manage-you-if-you-don-t-give-them-permission-to-do-so-but/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Success comes from doing what you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, how can it be called success?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/success-comes-from-doing-what-you-enjoy-if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-how-can/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professional-is-not-a-label-you-give-yourself-it-s-a-description-you/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Stop teaching students that they are the best and the brightest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/stop-teaching-students-that-they-are-the-best-and-the-brightest/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [I will not accept your guidance and critique unless you are supportive and nurturing. On the other hand, you need to be continually demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/i-will-not-accept-your-guidance-and-critique-unless-you-are/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-subjects-they-are-prepared-to/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Before a leader can be accepted, let alone succeed, autonomous professionals must agree to be influenced by that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/before-a-leader-can-be-accepted-let-alone-succeed-autonomous/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) ## More by David Maister > [Before a leader can be accepted, let alone succeed, autonomous professionals must agree to be influenced by that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/before-a-leader-can-be-accepted-let-alone-succeed-autonomous/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [No one can manage you if you don't give them permission to do so. But if you are interested in accomplishing as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/no-one-can-manage-you-if-you-don-t-give-them-permission-to-do-so-but/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Success comes from doing what you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, how can it be called success?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/success-comes-from-doing-what-you-enjoy-if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-how-can/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [The courage to care about your people, your clients, and your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/the-courage-to-care-about-your-people-your-clients-and-your-career/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [What do I have to do to earn and deserve the key relationships that are going to get me where I want to go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/what-do-i-have-to-do-to-earn-and-deserve-the-key-relationships-that/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [More than any other factor, it is the people we have to deal with that determine the quality of our work lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/more-than-any-other-factor-it-is-the-people-we-have-to-deal-with-that/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-subjects-they-are-prepared-to/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [I will not accept your guidance and critique unless you are supportive and nurturing. On the other hand, you need to be continually demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/i-will-not-accept-your-guidance-and-critique-unless-you-are/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Stop teaching students that they are the best and the brightest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/stop-teaching-students-that-they-are-the-best-and-the-brightest/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value surprisingly quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/left-untended-knowledge-and-skill-like-all-assets-depreciate-in-value/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professional-is-not-a-label-you-give-yourself-it-s-a-description-you/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Truly visionary and successful companies have discovered that there is no conflict between the pursuit of profit and having a pursuit beyond profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/truly-visionary-and-successful-companies-have-discovered-that-there/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Believe passionately in what you do, and never knowingly compromise your standards and values. Act like a true professional, aiming for true excellence, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/believe-passionately-in-what-you-do-and-never-knowingly-compromise/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [What you do with your billable time determines your current income, but what you do with your non-billable time determines your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/what-you-do-with-your-billable-time-determines-your-current-income/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [A true professional feels no pressure to run up a client's bill, knowing that any reduction in revenues caused by being efficient will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/a-true-professional-feels-no-pressure-to-run-up-a-client-s-bill/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) [Explore all 25 David Maister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) ## More Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-mercouri/much-has-been-said-and-continues-to-be-said-of-what-little-concern/) [Melina Mercouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-mercouri/) [Browse all 3,297 Concern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to strive only for your own success. 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