---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: there is one quality that sets truly…"
description: "\"“there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart from the rest: They discover what is unique about each person and then capitalize on it.”\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg"
---

#  there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart…

![“there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart from the rest: They discover what is unique about each person and then capitalize on it.” quote by Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg)

> ““there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart from the rest: They discover what is unique about each person and then capitalize on it.””

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Great managers excel by recognizing each individual's unique strengths and leveraging them for collective success.

**In simple terms:** Great managers use each person's strengths.

Key Takeaway

Identify and use unique strengths.

Themes

leadership personalization talent management

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

advice leadership

When to use this quote

- hiring
- team building
- performance reviews
- coaching

Key Concepts

strengths individual differences team dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you discover hidden strengths?
- What if a strength is misaligned with role?

A Different Perspective

May overlook systemic issues by focusing only on individuals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-managers/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/)

## Related quotes

> [The ability of a manager to be the driving force of a team is overrated, even when you associate historic teams (think the 1950s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/the-ability-of-a-manager-to-be-the-driving-force-of-a-team-is/)

[Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/)

> [If you have a great manager, you want to pay him very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-you-have-a-great-manager-you-want-to-pay-him-very-well/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [All resources are not obvious; great managers find and develop available talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/all-resources-are-not-obvious-great-managers-find-and-develop/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [Many fine coaches never become great managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/many-fine-coaches-never-become-great-managers/)

[Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/)

> [When you are young, you always want to improve, to work with great managers - and Arsene Wenger is one of the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/when-you-are-young-you-always-want-to-improve-to-work-with-great/)

[Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/)

> [We played a whole season unbeaten but you did not see me every week jumping on the tables. Once it's over it's over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/we-played-a-whole-season-unbeaten-but-you-did-not-see-me-every-week/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I love my wife. We've had a few slings and arrows across the room, but I'm not prepared to give in, you know? People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-love-my-wife-we-ve-had-a-few-slings-and-arrows-across-the-room-but/)

[Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/)

> [ I think 'Elbow' were considered successful even before \[2008's\] Seldom Seen Kid because we were living off the band. We have a great manager… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-garvey/i-think-elbow-were-considered-successful-even-before-2008-s-seldom/)

[Guy Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-garvey/)

> [I was once asked what it takes to be a great manager...my response? Great players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/i-was-once-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-a-great-manager-my-response/)

[Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/)

> [“Discover your unique voice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-buchan/discover-your-unique-voice/)

[Mary Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-buchan/)

> [“If you search truthfully, you will end up finding a reason to love yourself, and you will discover that you are unique and wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-roemmers/if-you-search-truthfully-you-will-end-up-finding-a-reason-to-love/)

A.G. Roemmers

> [Real management is developing people through work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agha-hasan-abedi/real-management-is-developing-people-through-work/)

Agha Hasan Abedi

> [I owe a lot to coming through the White Sox organization and their belief in me. I had some great managers and instructors in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/i-owe-a-lot-to-coming-through-the-white-sox-organization-and-their/)

[Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/)

> [“The Four Keys of Great Managers: 1. "When selecting someone, they select for talent ... not simply experience, intelligence or determination." 2. "When setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/the-four-keys-of-great-managers-1-when-selecting-someone-they-select/)

[Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/)

> [I have been fortunate to work under some great managers and I knew I could benefit from that education. I went round to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/i-have-been-fortunate-to-work-under-some-great-managers-and-i-knew-i/)

[Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/)

## More by Harvard Business Review

> [“Individuals are most likely to trust and cooperate freely with systems—whether they themselves win or lose by those systems—when fair process is observed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/individuals-are-most-likely-to-trust-and-cooperate-freely-with/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Most managers complain about having too little freedom in their jobs, while their bosses complain about managers’ failure to grasp opportunities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/most-managers-complain-about-having-too-little-freedom-in-their-jobs/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Idea in Brief Are you an ethical manager? Most would probably say, “Of course!” The truth is, most of us are not. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/idea-in-brief-are-you-an-ethical-manager-most-would-probably-say-of/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Too many people work in ways that are not their ways, and that almost guarantees nonperformance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/too-many-people-work-in-ways-that-are-not-their-ways-and-that-almost/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Managers who aspire to be ethical must challenge the assumption that they’re always unbiased and acknowledge that vigilance, even more than good intention, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/managers-who-aspire-to-be-ethical-must-challenge-the-assumption-that/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Such despondency is rarely psychologically devastating, but when combined with defensive reasoning, it can result in a formidable predisposition against learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/such-despondency-is-rarely-psychologically-devastating-but-when/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“In our studies of managers, we have found that the difference between those who take the initiative and those who do not becomes particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/in-our-studies-of-managers-we-have-found-that-the-difference-between/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Great leaders rise out of adversity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/great-leaders-rise-out-of-adversity/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“This thought experiment is a version of philosopher John Rawls’s concept of the “veil of ignorance,” which posits that only a person ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/this-thought-experiment-is-a-version-of-philosopher-john-rawls-s/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“a highly fragmented day is also a very lazy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/a-highly-fragmented-day-is-also-a-very-lazy-day/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/a-team-is-a-small-number-of-people-with-complementary-skills-who-are/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“an adversarial mindset not only prevents us from understanding and responding to the other party, but also makes us feel like we've lost when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/an-adversarial-mindset-not-only-prevents-us-from-understanding-and/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Idea in Brief Are you an ethical manager? Most would probably say, “Of course!” The truth is, most of us are not. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/idea-in-brief-are-you-an-ethical-manager-most-would-probably-say-of-2/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“Working Group Strong, clearly focused leader Individual accountability The group’s purpose is the same as the broader organizational mission Individual work products Runs efficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/working-group-strong-clearly-focused-leader-individual-accountability/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

> [“What Is Fair Process? The theme of justice has preoccupied writers and philosophers throughout the ages, but the systematic study of fair process emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/what-is-fair-process-the-theme-of-justice-has-preoccupied-writers-and/)

[Harvard Business Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

[Explore all 19 Harvard Business Review quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/)

## More Excellence quotes

> [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/)

[Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/)

> [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/)

[Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/)

> [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/)

[Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/)

> [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/)

[Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [“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/)

> [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/)

[Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/)

> [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/)

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/)

> [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/)

[Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/)

> [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/)

Philip Selznick

> [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

[Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart from the rest: They discover what is unique about each person and then capitalize on it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harvard Business Review"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-great-managers-apart-from-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Excellence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-great-managers-apart-from-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcc/harvard-business-review-28499_excellence_there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-gre_1533279.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“there is one quality that sets truly great managers apart from the rest: They discover what is unique about…” — Harvard Business Review",
                "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": "Harvard Business Review",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-review/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“there is one quality that sets...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-great-managers-apart-from-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-review/there-is-one-quality-that-sets-truly-great-managers-apart-from-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```