--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your job as an executive is to edit, not…" description: "\"Your job as an executive is to edit, not write. It's OK to write once in a while but if you do it often there's a fundamental problem with the team. Ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-dorsey-10448_asks_your-job-as-an-executive-is-to-edit-not_1406719.png" --- # Your job as an executive is to edit, not write. It's OK to… ![“Your job as an executive is to edit, not write. It's OK to write once in a while but if you do it often there's a fundamental problem with the team. Every time you do something ask if you're writing or editing and get in the mode of editing.” quote by Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-dorsey-10448_asks_your-job-as-an-executive-is-to-edit-not_1406719.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-dorsey-10448_asks_your-job-as-an-executive-is-to-edit-not_1406719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-dorsey-10448_asks_your-job-as-an-executive-is-to-edit-not_1406719.png) > “Your job as an executive is to edit, not write. It's OK to write once in a while but if you do it often there's a fundamental problem with the team. Every time you do something ask if you're writing or editing and get in the mode of editing.” [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership focuses on refining others' work rather than producing it yourself; over‑producing signals a broken team dynamic. **In simple terms:** Leaders should edit, not write. Key Takeaway Prioritize editing over writing. Themes leadership team dynamics productivity Mood thoughtful balanced Type advice leadership When to use this quote - team meetings - project reviews - content pipelines - performance feedback Key Concepts management delegation quality control Questions to Reflect On - How can you tell when to edit versus contribute original content? - What impact does excessive leader writing have on team morale? A Different Perspective If the leader writes too much, it can stifle autonomy and creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Edit Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edit-write-612861/) [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Edits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edits/) [Executive Edit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-edit-4946500/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-editing-422328/) ## Related quotes > [The way I write is this: I write about a thousand words a day, a little bit more. The next morning, I read those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/the-way-i-write-is-this-i-write-about-a-thousand-words-a-day-a-little/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [“It’s easy to see what to do once it’s already been done. The difficult time is before it’s to be done, and while you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-easy-to-see-what-to-do-once-it-s-already-been-done-the-difficult/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What helps change bad writing into mediocre writing is editing. Editing is in bad shape in print journalism, and is in virtually nonexistent shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/what-helps-change-bad-writing-into-mediocre-writing-is-editing/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [You generally know when someone asks you to do something- am I more writing, or am I more editing? The editor is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-rabois/you-generally-know-when-someone-asks-you-to-do-something-am-i-more/) [Keith Rabois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-rabois/) > [“You can edit what you write. Why not edit what you say? If it hurts somebody, you can still offer an apology or withdraw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/you-can-edit-what-you-write-why-not-edit-what-you-say-if-it-hurts/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I edit as I write and shoot. Any extra line, any pause that I know will get chopped on the editing table is done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/i-edit-as-i-write-and-shoot-any-extra-line-any-pause-that-i-know-will/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [I edit as I write. I revise endlessly. I don't go forward until I know that what I've written is as good as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/i-edit-as-i-write-i-revise-endlessly-i-don-t-go-forward-until-i-know/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [When I edit the poems - and I do edit, which some people don't mean when they use the term "stream of consciousness" -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zucker/when-i-edit-the-poems-and-i-do-edit-which-some-people-don-t-mean-when/) [Rachel Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zucker/) > [I never start editing a film until it's completely shot; I don't edit along the way, ever. When it's finished I come in here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-never-start-editing-a-film-until-it-s-completely-shot-i-don-t-edit/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I'm organizing documentary films, and whenever scriptwriting gets too tedious I go to my editing room and start to edit the documentary, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gerima/i-m-organizing-documentary-films-and-whenever-scriptwriting-gets-too/) [Haile Gerima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gerima/) > [The one thing I have learned about editing over the years is that you have to edit and publish out of your own tastes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-one-thing-i-have-learned-about-editing-over-the-years-is-that-you/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [In editing, you really face what the movie is. When you shoot it, you have this illusion that you're making the masterpieces that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/in-editing-you-really-face-what-the-movie-is-when-you-shoot-it-you/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [I'm a fierce editor! I don't edit out things that I began by saying, usually. The editing is on the micro level - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-m-a-fierce-editor-i-don-t-edit-out-things-that-i-began-by-saying/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [I take editing seriously. It's a joy to edit. I always hand a manuscript to several editors and can't wait to get back their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-take-editing-seriously-it-s-a-joy-to-edit-i-always-hand-a/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [A movie is a creative process from its conception, through its writing, to its execution, to the editing. I think with the best films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/a-movie-is-a-creative-process-from-its-conception-through-its-writing/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) ## More by Jack Dorsey > [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I was fascinated with jeans, because you can impress your life upon the jeans you wear. The way you sit imprints on the jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-was-fascinated-with-jeans-because-you-can-impress-your-life-upon/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [Great companies don't just have one founding moment. They have many founding moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/great-companies-don-t-just-have-one-founding-moment-they-have-many/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [Twitter was around communication and visualizing what was happening in the world in real-time. Square was allowing everyone to accept the form of payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/twitter-was-around-communication-and-visualizing-what-was-happening/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [Pick a movement, pick a revolution and join it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/pick-a-movement-pick-a-revolution-and-join-it/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [Build what you want to see in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/build-what-you-want-to-see-in-the-world/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I loved couriers. You had this transfer of physical information happening throughout the city and the world. Someone picking up the package, putting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-loved-couriers-you-had-this-transfer-of-physical-information/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I said a long time ago that Foursquare can make cities better. You have these augmented realities like Foursquare and Twitter and Facebook that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-said-a-long-time-ago-that-foursquare-can-make-cities-better-you/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I fell in love with flora of all types, especially ferns. Loved the sparse structure and repetition of shape - almost fractal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-fell-in-love-with-flora-of-all-types-especially-ferns-loved-the/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I think Twitter is the future of communications and Square will be the payment network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-think-twitter-is-the-future-of-communications-and-square-will-be/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [The idea of Twitter started with me working in dispatch since I was 15 years old, where taxi cabs or firetrucks would broadcast where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/the-idea-of-twitter-started-with-me-working-in-dispatch-since-i-was/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [Constraints inspire us in how we approach the press, how we approach business relationships, how we do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/constraints-inspire-us-in-how-we-approach-the-press-how-we-approach/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [A number of people in the United States, almost everyone, is using plastic cards to pay for things, but it's extremely difficult to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/a-number-of-people-in-the-united-states-almost-everyone-is-using/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [The first complaint we hear from everyone is: 'Why would I want to join this stupid useless thing and know what my brother's eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/the-first-complaint-we-hear-from-everyone-is-why-would-i-want-to-join/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [I spend 90% of my time with people who don't report to me, which also allows for serendipity, since I'm walking around the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-spend-90-of-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-report-to-me-which-also/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) [Explore all 65 Jack Dorsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. 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That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. 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