--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be counterproductive to tell…" description: "\"It would be counterproductive to tell people exactly what they are supposed to do and exactly how they are supposed to do it to a point where they beco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/douglas-conant-16197_about_it-would-be-counterproductive-to-tell-pe_1127027.png" --- # It would be counterproductive to tell people exactly what… ![“It would be counterproductive to tell people exactly what they are supposed to do and exactly how they are supposed to do it to a point where they become more concerned about your expectations than about completing their work in a quality way.” quote by Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/douglas-conant-16197_about_it-would-be-counterproductive-to-tell-pe_1127027.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/douglas-conant-16197_about_it-would-be-counterproductive-to-tell-pe_1127027.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/douglas-conant-16197_about_it-would-be-counterproductive-to-tell-pe_1127027.png) > “It would be counterproductive to tell people exactly what they are supposed to do and exactly how they are supposed to do it to a point where they become more concerned about your expectations than about completing their work in a quality way.” [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Over‑prescribing tasks stifles initiative and quality. **In simple terms:** Too much direction harms performance. Key Takeaway Provide clear goals, allow autonomy. Themes leadership autonomy quality Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice management When to use this quote - project management - team meetings - performance reviews Key Concepts management theory motivation organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How much guidance is enough? - What metrics ensure quality? A Different Perspective Risk of ambiguity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I have always maintained that it's not the quantity of work, but the quality that should speak. I have maintained the same for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adnan-sami/i-have-always-maintained-that-it-s-not-the-quantity-of-work-but-the/) [Adnan Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adnan-sami/) > [You can never plan anything, you're never guaranteed anything. As long as I'm getting the work and it's quality then I'm happy. But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-dyer/you-can-never-plan-anything-you-re-never-guaranteed-anything-as-long/) [Danny Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-dyer/) > [My goal is to stay happy in my work and to do quality work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-myles/my-goal-is-to-stay-happy-in-my-work-and-to-do-quality-work/) [Eve Myles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-myles/) > [If you think your work is ultimately about a paycheck, then that will affect the quality of your work as well as the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kim/if-you-think-your-work-is-ultimately-about-a-paycheck-then-that-will/) [David Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kim/) > [Be honest to your work and do quality work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prateik-babbar/be-honest-to-your-work-and-do-quality-work/) [Prateik Babbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prateik-babbar/) > [We all like to look forward to things. Incentivize yourself with a reward—a massage, dinner with a friend, a night watching your favorite show,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ettus/we-all-like-to-look-forward-to-things-incentivize-yourself-with-a/) Samantha Ettus > [Although the optimist may be a little giddy when foreseeing the future, telling himself that it will all work out in the end when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/although-the-optimist-may-be-a-little-giddy-when-foreseeing-the/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“How sad, how strange, we make companions out of air and hurt them, so they will defy us, completing creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/how-sad-how-strange-we-make-companions-out-of-air-and-hurt-them-so/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [In completing one discovery we never fail to get an imperfect knowledge of others of which we could have no idea before, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/in-completing-one-discovery-we-never-fail-to-get-an-imperfect/) [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) > [Many times we seek completion in what we should be completing...timz..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/many-times-we-seek-completion-in-what-we-should-be-completing-timz/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. 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Don't let excuses, problems, hard work or anything stop you from completing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/once-you-start-something-don-t-stop-until-you-complete-it-don-t-let/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More by Douglas Conant > [You must bring great resolve to your work. It's not all a bed of roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/you-must-bring-great-resolve-to-your-work-it-s-not-all-a-bed-of-roses/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [I would assert that highly effective leaders are made more than they're born. Every leader I know who's been highly effective has worked hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/i-would-assert-that-highly-effective-leaders-are-made-more-than-they/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [You have to be a well-rounded leader. You can't fly by the seat of your pants anymore. You have to be incredibly tough-minded about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/you-have-to-be-a-well-rounded-leader-you-can-t-fly-by-the-seat-of/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [I strongly believe that you can't win in the marketplace unless you win first in the workplace. If you don't have a winning culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/i-strongly-believe-that-you-can-t-win-in-the-marketplace-unless-you/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [All of us introverts aspire to be more outgoing, but it's not in our nature. When I was nearly 50, I discovered that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/all-of-us-introverts-aspire-to-be-more-outgoing-but-it-s-not-in-our/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [People lead complicated lives and aren't hanging on your every word or the company mission statement. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/most-people-think-of-leaders-as-being-these-outgoing-very-visible-and/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [Extroverts may get places faster, but for introverts it's all about working at the pace you need and, at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/extroverts-may-get-places-faster-but-for-introverts-it-s-all-about/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [Trust gives you the permission to give people direction, get everyone aligned, and give them the energy to go get the job done. Trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/trust-gives-you-the-permission-to-give-people-direction-get-everyone/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [On a personal level, I send out about 20 thank-you notes a day to staffers, on all levels. And every six weeks I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/on-a-personal-level-i-send-out-about-20-thank-you-notes-a-day-to/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) [Explore all 40 Douglas Conant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. 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