--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look at a leader, I look at…" description: "\"When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to get exceptional performance out of others.\" — Debra L. Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3d/debra-l-reed-33621_exceptional_when-i-look-at-a-leader-i-look-at-someon_2288157.jpg" --- # When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to… ![“When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to get exceptional performance out of others.” quote by Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3d/debra-l-reed-33621_exceptional_when-i-look-at-a-leader-i-look-at-someon_2288157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3d/debra-l-reed-33621_exceptional_when-i-look-at-a-leader-i-look-at-someon_2288157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3d/debra-l-reed-33621_exceptional_when-i-look-at-a-leader-i-look-at-someon_2288157.jpg) > “When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to get exceptional performance out of others.” [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader is judged by the ability to inspire and extract outstanding results from a team. **In simple terms:** Leadership is about driving others to excel. Key Takeaway Focus on empowering people. Themes leadership performance influence Mood inspirational serious Type advice leadership When to use this quote - business management - sports coaching - project leadership Key Concepts motivation team dynamics achievement Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure a leader’s impact? - What tactics boost team performance? A Different Perspective Leadership alone cannot guarantee success without resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able Exceptional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-exceptional-5366466/) [Exceptional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional/) [Exceptional Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional-performance-5366467/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-look-292614/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-leader-2670099/) [Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/others/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [I don't look at myself as a leader. I do look at myself as part of a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-leader-i-do-look-at-myself-as-part-of-a/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I don't see a candidate on the scene right now, but it is going to have to be a candidate that people can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-nixon-eisenhower/i-don-t-see-a-candidate-on-the-scene-right-now-but-it-is-going-to/) [Julie Nixon Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-nixon-eisenhower/) > [I do look at leader boards. I want to know where I'm at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-morikawa/i-do-look-at-leader-boards-i-want-to-know-where-i-m-at/) [Collin Morikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-morikawa/) > [My job as a leader is not to say, 'Hey, look at me. I'm a leader.' It's to lead. I mean, I've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freeman/my-job-as-a-leader-is-not-to-say-hey-look-at-me-i-m-a-leader-it-s-to/) [Josh Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freeman/) > [“Was it really true that the natural inclination of people was to look for a leader? Someone to make decisions for them? Indeed, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-strasser/was-it-really-true-that-the-natural-inclination-of-people-was-to-look/) [Todd Strasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-strasser/) > [It is hard to look up to a leader who keeps his ear to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-boren/it-is-hard-to-look-up-to-a-leader-who-keeps-his-ear-to-the-ground/) [James H. Boren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-boren/) > [For some reason the football coach of a major college program is seen as one of the leaders of the campus. And some way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/for-some-reason-the-football-coach-of-a-major-college-program-is-seen/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [If you think you're a leader, and you look over your shoulder and there ain't nobody following you, man, you're just takin' a walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/if-you-think-you-re-a-leader-and-you-look-over-your-shoulder-and/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [“As a leader you should look in the mirror and ask yourself would I follow you ensured of a victory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler/as-a-leader-you-should-look-in-the-mirror-and-ask-yourself-would-i/) [Donavan Nelson Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler/) > [A leader must look and act the part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/a-leader-must-look-and-act-the-part/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Optimism is the ultimate definition of a leader. A leader has to look optimistically at what is ahead while not ignoring the challenges that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/optimism-is-the-ultimate-definition-of-a-leader-a-leader-has-to-look/) [Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/) > [“The competency of people you mobilize to work with will determine the output you will receive. As a leader, always look for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-competency-of-people-you-mobilize-to-work-with-will-determine-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [There's a lot of people that will take the path of least resistance not to do something if a leader that they look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/there-s-a-lot-of-people-that-will-take-the-path-of-least-resistance/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Debra L. Reed > [People with the same information often make the same decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/people-with-the-same-information-often-make-the-same-decisions/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [Be willing to take on career risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/be-willing-to-take-on-career-risks/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [Don't restrict yourself by saying things are not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/don-t-restrict-yourself-by-saying-things-are-not-possible/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [With the support and dedication from employees at every level of the company, we've been successful in expanding supplier diversity in many areas, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/with-the-support-and-dedication-from-employees-at-every-level-of-the/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [Broaden your work experience - either within your company or through your job progression in other companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/broaden-your-work-experience-either-within-your-company-or-through/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [To me, leadership is helping people do their best. If you define leadership that way, I don't think it's overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/to-me-leadership-is-helping-people-do-their-best-if-you-define/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [Both Sempra Energy and Oncor share more than 100 years of experience operating utilities that deliver safe, reliable energy to millions of customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/both-sempra-energy-and-oncor-share-more-than-100-years-of-experience/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [I think we would define the role for us in the future as helping customers in what we would call an energy-banking concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/i-think-we-would-define-the-role-for-us-in-the-future-as-helping/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [In terms of the energy-banking concept, what we'd love to be able to do is to act in a way where customers could deposit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/in-terms-of-the-energy-banking-concept-what-we-d-love-to-be-able-to/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [I'm very much a team-oriented person. I love to have diverse viewpoints because I think we make better decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/i-m-very-much-a-team-oriented-person-i-love-to-have-diverse/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [Our long-standing philosophy that our diverse suppliers must provide high-quality goods and services at competitive prices adds great value to our business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/our-long-standing-philosophy-that-our-diverse-suppliers-must-provide/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [What I tell women who want to get on corporate boards is to get connected! Do volunteer work, network in business, join community organization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/what-i-tell-women-who-want-to-get-on-corporate-boards-is-to-get/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) > [It is important for Oncor to remain financially strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-l-reed/it-is-important-for-oncor-to-remain-financially-strong/) [Debra L. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) [Explore all 14 Debra L. Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-l-reed/) ## More Exceptional quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I never wanted to do away with my intensity because I felt it was a gift that helped put fuel in my engine, giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-meyer/i-never-wanted-to-do-away-with-my-intensity-because-i-felt-it-was-a/) [Paul J. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-meyer/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [He had heard that women often love plain ordinary men, but he did not believe it, because he judged by himself and he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-had-heard-that-women-often-love-plain-ordinary-men-but-he-did-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The test of a man’s religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-test-of-a-man-s-religious-life-and-character-is-not-what-he-does/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You're exceptional the way you are, Don't need to change for nobody, You're incredible, anyone can see that, When will you believe that? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo/you-re-exceptional-the-way-you-are-don-t-need-to-change-for-nobody/) [JoJo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'm exceptional in everything that I do and I aspire to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/i-m-exceptional-in-everything-that-i-do-and-i-aspire-to-do/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [As soon as I find myself in the presence of a rich man, I cannot help looking upon him as an exceptional and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/as-soon-as-i-find-myself-in-the-presence-of-a-rich-man-i-cannot-help/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [The meaning resides in one's own experience, making the everyday the exceptional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-mockbee/the-meaning-resides-in-one-s-own-experience-making-the-everyday-the/) [Samuel Mockbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-mockbee/) > [With the exceptional talent that is Guy Sigsworth as producer and collaborator, we have recorded a collection of original songs that sees me moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/with-the-exceptional-talent-that-is-guy-sigsworth-as-producer-and/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Kate Bernheimer's fiction offers a unique and delicate gift, the tempting mirage of a grace that constantly escapes. The Complete Tales of Merry Gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-millet/kate-bernheimer-s-fiction-offers-a-unique-and-delicate-gift-the/) [Lydia Millet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-millet/) > [Having always imagined myself in a fairly slim minority, I suddenly saw that I was in a vast company. Difference unites us. While each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/having-always-imagined-myself-in-a-fairly-slim-minority-i-suddenly/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [The vulgar mind always mistakes the exceptional for the important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-vulgar-mind-always-mistakes-the-exceptional-for-the-important/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) [Browse all 589 Exceptional quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to get exceptional performance out of others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debra L. 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