--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a terrible thing to look over your…" description: "\"“It's a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead -- and to find no one there.”\" — Franklin D. Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_lead_it-s-a-terrible-thing-to-look-over-your_694410.jpg" --- # It's a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you… ![“It's a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead -- and to find no one there.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_lead_it-s-a-terrible-thing-to-look-over-your_694410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_lead_it-s-a-terrible-thing-to-look-over-your_694410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_lead_it-s-a-terrible-thing-to-look-over-your_694410.jpg) > ““It's a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead -- and to find no one there.”” [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must focus forward, not be distracted by imagined critics, to guide effectively. **In simple terms:** Focus ahead, ignore imagined opposition. Key Takeaway Stay forward‑focused. Themes leadership confidence focus Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - business leadership - political leadership - team management - public speaking Key Concepts psychology of fear decision making Questions to Reflect On - What imagined criticism holds you back? - How can you verify if criticism is real? A Different Perspective Over‑confidence can blind leaders to real feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [You can't constantly be looking OVER your shoulder if you are trying to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-constantly-be-looking-over-your-shoulder-if-you-are-trying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pedigree matters: if you break your shoulder trying to open a door, it's much harder to play the game once you get in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/pedigree-matters-if-you-break-your-shoulder-trying-to-open-a-door-it/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [Any time you get into that chip on the shoulder, trying to prove that I can do this and I can do that, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mcnabb/any-time-you-get-into-that-chip-on-the-shoulder-trying-to-prove-that/) [Donovan McNabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mcnabb/) > [“I'll be there for you always Always and always Just look over your shoulder I'll be there, always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-ll-be-there-for-you-always-always-and-always-just-look-over-your/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [With every advance, you have to look over your shoulder and know what you're giving up - look over your shoulder and look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/with-every-advance-you-have-to-look-over-your-shoulder-and-know-what/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [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/) > [I have to look over my shoulder all the time, be really vigilant because at any moment, someone could be filming me or recording…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-have-to-look-over-my-shoulder-all-the-time-be-really-vigilant/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [“Just look over your shoulder...I'll be there always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/just-look-over-your-shoulder-i-ll-be-there-always/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/if-you-re-a-competitive-person-that-stays-with-you-you-don-t-stop-you/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Comin' up in the world, don't trust no body gotta look over your shoulder constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cypress-hill/comin-up-in-the-world-don-t-trust-no-body-gotta-look-over-your/) [Cypress Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cypress-hill/) > [Life's greatest comfort is being able to look over your shoulder and see people worse off, waiting in line behind you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/life-s-greatest-comfort-is-being-able-to-look-over-your-shoulder-and/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“If you always look over your shoulder, how can you still remain human?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solzhenitsyn-aleksandr/if-you-always-look-over-your-shoulder-how-can-you-still-remain-human/) Solzhenitsyn Aleksandr > [In nearly every case, trying to lead everyone results in leading no one in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/in-nearly-every-case-trying-to-lead-everyone-results-in-leading-no/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I will respect the limits of my experience but that won't stop me from trying to lead by example of my work. Being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rizzo/i-will-respect-the-limits-of-my-experience-but-that-won-t-stop-me/) [Anthony Rizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rizzo/) > [We should be actors rather than trying to be a lead; it will create a healthier atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nithya-menen/we-should-be-actors-rather-than-trying-to-be-a-lead-it-will-create-a/) [Nithya Menen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nithya-menen/) ## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/) [Franklin D. 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Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More Lead quotes > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. 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Thank You Zillow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-rascoff/i-have-never-worked-with-a-better-lead-generating-company-thank-you/) Spencer Rascoff > [If I'm going to get you to do stuff, I need to lead you. I can't just order you to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-i-m-going-to-get-you-to-do-stuff-i-need-to-lead-you-i-can-t-just/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [When you have a big lead, you relax and don't concentrate as much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-you-have-a-big-lead-you-relax-and-don-t-concentrate-as-much/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Somehow, I don't see myself doing a lead role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badshah/somehow-i-don-t-see-myself-doing-a-lead-role/) [Badshah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/badshah/) > [Trans actors, just like cisgender actors, need to build experience before getting lead roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-root/trans-actors-just-like-cisgender-actors-need-to-build-experience/) [Rebecca Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-root/) > [One of the great things about unions is they're member driven and give us the great ability to both lead and follow at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rosenberg/one-of-the-great-things-about-unions-is-they-re-member-driven-and/) [Alan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rosenberg/) > [After years of research, I discovered 25 differences in the work-life choices of men and women. 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