--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The five most important words a leader…" description: "\"The five most important words a leader can speak are - 'I am proud of you' The four most important are - 'What is your opinion?' The three most importa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg" --- # The five most important words a leader can speak are - 'I… ![“The five most important words a leader can speak are - 'I am proud of you' The four most important are - 'What is your opinion?' The three most important are - 'If you please' The two most important are - 'Thank You' And the most important single word of all is - 'You'” quote by Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg) > “The five most important words a leader can speak are - 'I am proud of you' The four most important are - 'What is your opinion?' The three most important are - 'If you please' The two most important are - 'Thank You' And the most important single word of all is - 'You'” [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders build morale and collaboration by expressing pride, seeking opinions, politely requesting, thanking, and ultimately valuing each person. **In simple terms:** Leaders should praise, ask, thank, and value people. Key Takeaway Use affirmations and gratitude to empower teams. Themes leadership communication recognition Mood motivational practical Type guidance inspirational When to use this quote - corporate meetings - coach sessions - family discussions Key Concepts psychology team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance praise with constructive feedback? - When is a simple 'thank you' most effective? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on praise may reduce accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [Competence goes beyond words. It's the leader's ability to say it, plan it, and do it in such a way that others know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/competence-goes-beyond-words-it-s-the-leader-s-ability-to-say-it-plan/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A great leader needs to love and respect people, and he needs to be comfortable with himself and with the world. He also needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-hindery/a-great-leader-needs-to-love-and-respect-people-and-he-needs-to-be/) [Leo Hindery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-hindery/) > [The words a leader speaks are important, of course. But how they're delivered can make all the difference, especially in tough times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baldoni/the-words-a-leader-speaks-are-important-of-course-but-how-they-re/) [John Baldoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-baldoni/) > [I am not a national leader. If I am a national leader I can speak out all that I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-am-not-a-national-leader-if-i-am-a-national-leader-i-can-speak-out/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [The job of the leader is to speak to the possibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zander/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-speak-to-the-possibility/) [Benjamin Zander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zander/) > [Communication comes with practice. As a leader you must speak the truth; listen for understanding; and learn from what you hear and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-baldoni/communication-comes-with-practice-as-a-leader-you-must-speak-the/) [John Baldoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-baldoni/) > [Brevity is the soul of command. Too much talking suggests desperation on the part of the leader. Speak shortly, decisively and to the point–and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-the-great/brevity-is-the-soul-of-command-too-much-talking-suggests-desperation/) [Cyrus the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-the-great/) > [The most important three words you can say to yourself: Yes I can!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-most-important-three-words-you-can-say-to-yourself-yes-i-can/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [He knows that the most important words in all languages are the small words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/he-knows-that-the-most-important-words-in-all-languages-are-the-small/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Yes. Da ,' I corrected. 'Say it again.' 'What?"' His voice grew husky as he repeated his request. 'Say yes— in Russian —again.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-delany/yes-da-i-corrected-say-it-again-what-his-voice-grew-husky-as-he/) [Shannon Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-delany/) > [Show your gratitude to them, let them know they are loved and not being taken for granted. Nice words are hard to say but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbles/show-your-gratitude-to-them-let-them-know-they-are-loved-and-not/) [Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbles/) > [“History is so important. It has been said that the three most important words in the English language are “remember, remember, remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-richards/history-is-so-important-it-has-been-said-that-the-three-most/) Carl Richards > [So what I don't say the three most important words that doesn't mean anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-what-i-don-t-say-the-three-most-important-words-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand why we do that now. It’s a help, not a threat. It’s something to remind you how important words are. Ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/i-understand-why-we-do-that-now-it-s-a-help-not-a-threat-it-s/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Music and language are a vital element. We, as actors and directors, offer it to people who want to experience it. Sometimes the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/music-and-language-are-a-vital-element-we-as-actors-and-directors/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) ## More by Denis Waitley > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Optimism boosts your energy and focuses your sights on reaching your goals, rather than wallowing in your setbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/optimism-boosts-your-energy-and-focuses-your-sights-on-reaching-your/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You can only do good if you feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-can-only-do-good-if-you-feel-good/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [There never was a winner, who wasn't a beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/there-never-was-a-winner-who-wasn-t-a-beginner/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The greatest limitations you will ever face will be those you place on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-greatest-limitations-you-will-ever-face-will-be-those-you-place/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The easiest thing is to make sure you feel happy and satisfied in this moment. Setting long term goals is much more effort taking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-easiest-thing-is-to-make-sure-you-feel-happy-and-satisfied-in/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You must get money to chase you, but never let it catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-must-get-money-to-chase-you-but-never-let-it-catch-up/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Contentment is for cows; a challenging purpose is for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/contentment-is-for-cows-a-challenging-purpose-is-for-people/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The season for enjoying the fullness of life - partaking of the harvest, sharing the harvest with others, and reinvesting and saving portions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-season-for-enjoying-the-fullness-of-life-partaking-of-the-harvest/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Goals are like stepping-stones to the stars. They should never be used to put a ceiling or a limit on achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/goals-are-like-stepping-stones-to-the-stars-they-should-never-be-used/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The two greatest fear busters are knowledge and action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-two-greatest-fear-busters-are-knowledge-and-action/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Positive self-expectancy is the first, most outwardly identifiable quality of a top-achieving, winning human being. Positive self-expectancy is pure and simple optimism: real enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/positive-self-expectancy-is-the-first-most-outwardly-identifiable/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The seeds of greatness are ideas you learn from people who've been great in their service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-seeds-of-greatness-are-ideas-you-learn-from-people-who-ve-been/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Discipline is doing within, while you do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/discipline-is-doing-within-while-you-do-without/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) [Explore all 316 Denis Waitley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More Five quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/five-days-or-five-months-but-it-certainly-isn-t-going-to-last-longer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [If you look at the charts every year, there may be five or ten memorable songs from each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-jackson/if-you-look-at-the-charts-every-year-there-may-be-five-or-ten/) [Randy Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-jackson/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I don't think we need a featuring though , because five of us are enough .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyun-joong/i-don-t-think-we-need-a-featuring-though-because-five-of-us-are-enough/) [Kim Hyun-joong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyun-joong/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I am naturally a thin person and I am 5'1" and putting on five or 10 pounds, that looks like a lot on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-am-naturally-a-thin-person-and-i-am-5-1-and-putting-on-five-or-10/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Man, you'd be surprised how much I'm learning - not only about myself, but about the musicians who came before me. You don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-hubbard/man-you-d-be-surprised-how-much-i-m-learning-not-only-about-myself/) [Freddie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-hubbard/) > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) Browse all 6,265 Five quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The five most important words a leader can speak are - 'I am proud of you' The four most important are - 'What is your opinion?' The three most important are - 'If you please' The two most important are - 'Thank You' And the most important single word of all is - 'You'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denis Waitley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-can-speak-are-i-am-proud-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Five" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-can-speak-are-i-am-proud-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c5/denis-waitley-977_five_the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-c_1565249.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The five most important words a leader can speak are - 'I am proud of you' The four most important are…” — Denis Waitley", "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": "Denis Waitley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The five most important words a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-can-speak-are-i-am-proud-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-five-most-important-words-a-leader-can-speak-are-i-am-proud-of/#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 } } ] } ```