--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The boss drives people; The leader…" description: "\"The boss drives people; The leader coaches them.\" — Harry Gordon Selfridge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png" --- # The boss drives people; The leader coaches them. ![“The boss drives people; The leader coaches them.” quote by Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png) > “The boss drives people; The leader coaches them.” [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership is about coaching and developing people, not merely directing them. **In simple terms:** Leaders coach, not just command. Key Takeaway Shift from commanding to coaching. Themes leadership coaching development Mood encouraging practical Type advice motivational When to use this quote - team management - employee training - performance reviews Key Concepts mentorship empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you coach a resistant employee? - What coaching methods work best for you? A Different Perspective Coaching requires time and trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Boss and leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss-and-leader/) [Boss Drives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss-drives-3509071/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Drives People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drives-people-306898/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-coaches-3793020/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-leader-433851/) ## Related quotes > [The leader works in the open and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-leader-works-in-the-open-and-the-boss-in-covert-the-leader-leads/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/people-ask-the-difference-between-a-leader-and-a-boss-the-leader-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The boss depends on authority; the leader on goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-depends-on-authority-the-leader-on-goodwill/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The boss says 'I'; The leader says 'We'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-inspires-fear-the-leader-inspires-enthusiasm-the-boss-says-i/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss drives people; the leader coaches them. The boss depends on authority; the leader on good will. The boss inspires fear; the leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coaches-them-the-boss-depends-on/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss says 'Go'; the leader says 'Let's go!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-says-go-the-leader-says-let-s-go/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss says 'I'; the leader, 'we'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-says-i-the-leader-we/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witter-bynner/a-leader-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists/) [Witter Bynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witter-bynner/) > [“The longer it takes for a boss to respond to their e-mails, the less satisfied people are with their leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/the-longer-it-takes-for-a-boss-to-respond-to-their-e-mails-the-less/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“I can guess which car my boss drives. I’ll just look for the one with the hole in the back, like an asshole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-can-guess-which-car-my-boss-drives-i-ll-just-look-for-the-one-with/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-boss-inspires-fear-the-leader-inspires-enthusiasm/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Bosses and leaders everywhere should cherish the people who bring them bad news, disappointing data or hard problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/bosses-and-leaders-everywhere-should-cherish-the-people-who-bring/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [What drives people to public service is a sense of possibility. If you haven't sensed that possibility you don't get started in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hampton/what-drives-people-to-public-service-is-a-sense-of-possibility-if-you/) [Henry Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hampton/) > [A leader leads by example not by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/a-leader-leads-by-example-not-by-force/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) ## More by Harry Gordon Selfridge > [“People will sit up and take notice of you if you will sit up and take notice of what makes them sit up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/people-will-sit-up-and-take-notice-of-you-if-you-will-sit-up-and-take/) [harry gordon selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [ Treat \[the customer\] as guests when they come and when they go, whether or not they buy. Give them all that can be given… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/treat-the-customer-as-guests-when-they-come-and-when-they-go-whether/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [There are no hard times for good ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/there-are-no-hard-times-for-good-ideas/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss says 'Go'; the leader says 'Let's go!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-says-go-the-leader-says-let-s-go/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The consumer is always right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-consumer-is-always-right/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss drives people; the leader coaches them. The boss depends on authority; the leader on good will. The boss inspires fear; the leader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coaches-them-the-boss-depends-on/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm. The boss says 'I'; The leader says 'We'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-inspires-fear-the-leader-inspires-enthusiasm-the-boss-says-i/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [Excite the mind, and the hand will reach for the pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/excite-the-mind-and-the-hand-will-reach-for-the-pocket/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The customer is always right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-customer-is-always-right/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [Whenever I may be tempted to slack up and let the business run for awhile on its own impetus, I picture my competitor sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/whenever-i-may-be-tempted-to-slack-up-and-let-the-business-run-for/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss depends on authority; the leader on goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-depends-on-authority-the-leader-on-goodwill/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [Get the confidence of the public and you will have no difficulty in getting their patronage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/get-the-confidence-of-the-public-and-you-will-have-no-difficulty-in/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) > [The boss says 'I'; the leader, 'we'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-says-i-the-leader-we/) [Harry Gordon Selfridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) [Explore all 14 Harry Gordon Selfridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/) ## More Boss quotes > [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/) [Stephen Henning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-henning/) > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/) [Roberto Aguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-aguire/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The boss drives people; The leader coaches them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Gordon Selfridge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coaches-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boss" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coaches-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/harry-gordon-selfridge-34370_boss_the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coache_2850927.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The boss drives people; The leader coaches them.” — Harry Gordon Selfridge", "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": "Harry Gordon Selfridge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-gordon-selfridge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The boss drives people; The leader...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coaches-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-gordon-selfridge/the-boss-drives-people-the-leader-coaches-them/#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 } } ] } ```