--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you create an environment where the…" description: "\"If you create an environment where the people truly participate, you don't need control. They know what needs to be done and they do it. And the more t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/herb-kelleher-8657_active-participation_if-you-create-an-environment-where-the-p_2703638.jpg" --- # If you create an environment where the people truly… ![“If you create an environment where the people truly participate, you don't need control. They know what needs to be done and they do it. And the more that people will devote themselves to your cause on a voluntary basis, a willing basis, the fewer hierarchies and control mechanisms you need.” quote by Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/herb-kelleher-8657_active-participation_if-you-create-an-environment-where-the-p_2703638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/herb-kelleher-8657_active-participation_if-you-create-an-environment-where-the-p_2703638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/herb-kelleher-8657_active-participation_if-you-create-an-environment-where-the-p_2703638.jpg) > “If you create an environment where the people truly participate, you don't need control. They know what needs to be done and they do it. And the more that people will devote themselves to your cause on a voluntary basis, a willing basis, the fewer hierarchies and control mechanisms you need.” [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When people are truly engaged, they self-organize, reducing need for hierarchical control. **In simple terms:** Engaged participants manage themselves, needing less control. Key Takeaway Foster participation to minimize bureaucracy. Themes leadership participation volunteerism hierarchy empowerment Mood inspirational pragmatic Type leadership organizational When to use this quote - team building - community projects - non‑profit management - startup culture Key Concepts self‑organization intrinsic motivation trust building Questions to Reflect On - How to ensure alignment without formal control? - What structures support voluntary commitment? A Different Perspective Self‑management may falter without clear goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active participation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-participation/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Great leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leadership/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [We can learn that reward comes in creation and re-creation, no just in the consumption of the world around us. Active participation in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/we-can-learn-that-reward-comes-in-creation-and-re-creation-no-just-in/) [Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/) > [Though government has an important role to play in meeting the many challenges that remain before us, we are coming to understand that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/though-government-has-an-important-role-to-play-in-meeting-the-many/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“A month has passed since I’ve written, but it has seemed to pass much more slowly. Life passes by now like the scenery outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/a-month-has-passed-since-i-ve-written-but-it-has-seemed-to-pass-much/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I'm an active participation guy. No matter how much money you make, no matter how famous you are, you're not above going outside and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/i-m-an-active-participation-guy-no-matter-how-much-money-you-make-no/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [We do not understand democracy in its bourgeois meaning--of babbling, lack of discipline, anarchy. We understand democracy as the active participation of the citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolae-ceausescu/we-do-not-understand-democracy-in-its-bourgeois-meaning-of-babbling/) [Nicolae Ceausescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolae-ceausescu/) > [As South Korea shows, active participation in international trade does not require free trade. Indeed, had South Korea pursued free trade and not promoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/as-south-korea-shows-active-participation-in-international-trade-does/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [The more we increase the active participation and partnership with young people, the better we serve them. ... And the more comprehensively we work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-del-carmen-martinez-bordiu-y-franco/the-more-we-increase-the-active-participation-and-partnership-with/) Maria del Carmen Martinez-Bordiu y Franco > [“The faithful of Shiva or Dionysus seek contact with those forces which...lead to a refusal of the politics, ambitions and limitations of ordinary social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-dani-lou/the-faithful-of-shiva-or-dionysus-seek-contact-with-those-forces/) Alain Daniélou > [“Your obligation is that of active participation. You should not act as knowledge-absorbing sponges, but as whetstones on which we can all sharpen our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-w-dijkstra/your-obligation-is-that-of-active-participation-you-should-not-act-as/) [Edsger W. Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-w-dijkstra/) > [“Moving toward a more harmonious way of life and greater resilience requires our active participation. This means finding ways to become more aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-ellix-katz/moving-toward-a-more-harmonious-way-of-life-and-greater-resilience/) [Sandor Ellix Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandor-ellix-katz/) > [I have formulated several levels of protest in my 'Sarabjit Bachao Andolan.' The first level is to get the active participation of the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raza-murad/i-have-formulated-several-levels-of-protest-in-my-sarabjit-bachao/) [Raza Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raza-murad/) > [We wish for a broad-based government with the active participation of women, which will promote freedom and equal rights for women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sima-samar/we-wish-for-a-broad-based-government-with-the-active-participation-of/) Sima Samar > [Life passes by now like the scenery outside a car window. I breathe and eat and sleep as I always did, but there seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/life-passes-by-now-like-the-scenery-outside-a-car-window-i-breathe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Women in the Arab world have a rich history in their active participation in political change from the Algeria revolution against the French occupation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/women-in-the-arab-world-have-a-rich-history-in-their-active/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Im generally of the view that we should know the names of those who enacted and justified imperial power - but only if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/im-generally-of-the-view-that-we-should-know-the-names-of-those-who/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) ## More by Herb Kelleher > [If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [You have to treat your employees like your customers. When you treat them right they will treat your outside customers right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/you-have-to-treat-your-employees-like-your-customers-when-you-treat/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/power-should-be-reserved-for-weightlifting-and-boats-and-leadership/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [As far as value is concerned, the principal reason that I moved to Texas from New Jersey many, many years ago was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/as-far-as-value-is-concerned-the-principal-reason-that-i-moved-to/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Sometimes you need a little courage too just to buck popular opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/sometimes-you-need-a-little-courage-too-just-to-buck-popular-opinion/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I want to see Texas remain an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/i-want-to-see-texas-remain-an-entrepreneurial-powerhouse-in-the/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [You can't have a mid-life crisis in the airline industry because every day is a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/you-can-t-have-a-mid-life-crisis-in-the-airline-industry-because/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Keep costs low and spirits high, and the people of Southwest Airlines will keep LUV in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/keep-costs-low-and-spirits-high-and-the-people-of-southwest-airlines/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-company-is-stronger-if-it-is-bound-by-love-rather-than-by-fear/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [The people of Southwest have always been my pride, my joy and my love. Their indomitable dedication and esprit de corps have taken Southwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/the-people-of-southwest-have-always-been-my-pride-my-joy-and-my-love/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy, so they keep coming back. It's not one of the enduring green mysteries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-motivated-employee-treats-the-customer-well-the-customer-is-happy/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Hire for attitude, train for skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/hire-for-attitude-train-for-skill/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [We have the best customer satisfaction record, based on Transportation Dept. statistics, of any airline in America, the fewest complaints filed per 100,000 passengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-have-the-best-customer-satisfaction-record-based-on-transportation/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Think small and act small, and we'll get bigger. Think big and act big, and we'll get smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/think-small-and-act-small-and-we-ll-get-bigger-think-big-and-act-big/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I've found that many of the greatest ideas surface in bars because that's where many people cultivate inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/i-ve-found-that-many-of-the-greatest-ideas-surface-in-bars-because/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) [Explore all 79 Herb Kelleher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) ## More Active participation quotes > [We can learn that reward comes in creation and re-creation, no just in the consumption of the world around us. Active participation in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/we-can-learn-that-reward-comes-in-creation-and-re-creation-no-just-in/) [Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/) > [Women in the Arab world have a rich history in their active participation in political change from the Algeria revolution against the French occupation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/women-in-the-arab-world-have-a-rich-history-in-their-active/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Life passes by now like the scenery outside a car window. I breathe and eat and sleep as I always did, but there seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/life-passes-by-now-like-the-scenery-outside-a-car-window-i-breathe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [We wish for a broad-based government with the active participation of women, which will promote freedom and equal rights for women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sima-samar/we-wish-for-a-broad-based-government-with-the-active-participation-of/) Sima Samar > [I have formulated several levels of protest in my 'Sarabjit Bachao Andolan.' The first level is to get the active participation of the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raza-murad/i-have-formulated-several-levels-of-protest-in-my-sarabjit-bachao/) [Raza Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raza-murad/) > [“Moving toward a more harmonious way of life and greater resilience requires our active participation. This means finding ways to become more aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-ellix-katz/moving-toward-a-more-harmonious-way-of-life-and-greater-resilience/) [Sandor Ellix Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandor-ellix-katz/) > [“Your obligation is that of active participation. You should not act as knowledge-absorbing sponges, but as whetstones on which we can all sharpen our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-w-dijkstra/your-obligation-is-that-of-active-participation-you-should-not-act-as/) [Edsger W. Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-w-dijkstra/) > [“The faithful of Shiva or Dionysus seek contact with those forces which...lead to a refusal of the politics, ambitions and limitations of ordinary social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-dani-lou/the-faithful-of-shiva-or-dionysus-seek-contact-with-those-forces/) Alain Daniélou > [The more we increase the active participation and partnership with young people, the better we serve them. ... And the more comprehensively we work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-del-carmen-martinez-bordiu-y-franco/the-more-we-increase-the-active-participation-and-partnership-with/) Maria del Carmen Martinez-Bordiu y Franco > [As South Korea shows, active participation in international trade does not require free trade. Indeed, had South Korea pursued free trade and not promoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/as-south-korea-shows-active-participation-in-international-trade-does/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [We do not understand democracy in its bourgeois meaning--of babbling, lack of discipline, anarchy. We understand democracy as the active participation of the citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolae-ceausescu/we-do-not-understand-democracy-in-its-bourgeois-meaning-of-babbling/) [Nicolae Ceausescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolae-ceausescu/) > [I'm an active participation guy. No matter how much money you make, no matter how famous you are, you're not above going outside and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/i-m-an-active-participation-guy-no-matter-how-much-money-you-make-no/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [“A month has passed since I’ve written, but it has seemed to pass much more slowly. Life passes by now like the scenery outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/a-month-has-passed-since-i-ve-written-but-it-has-seemed-to-pass-much/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Though government has an important role to play in meeting the many challenges that remain before us, we are coming to understand that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/though-government-has-an-important-role-to-play-in-meeting-the-many/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Im generally of the view that we should know the names of those who enacted and justified imperial power - but only if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/im-generally-of-the-view-that-we-should-know-the-names-of-those-who/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) [Browse all 38 Active participation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-participation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you create an environment where the people truly participate, you don't need control. They know what needs to be done and they do it. 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