--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Managers will tell people what to do…" description: "\"Managers will tell people what to do, whereas leaders will inspire them to do it, and there are a few things that go into the ability to inspire.\" — Je..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png" --- # Managers will tell people what to do, whereas leaders will… ![“Managers will tell people what to do, whereas leaders will inspire them to do it, and there are a few things that go into the ability to inspire.” quote by Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png) > “Managers will tell people what to do, whereas leaders will inspire them to do it, and there are a few things that go into the ability to inspire.” [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders inspire action beyond directives, requiring additional qualities beyond mere instruction. **In simple terms:** Leaders inspire, not just direct. Key Takeaway Cultivate inspirational leadership. Themes leadership inspiration motivation Mood motivational strategic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - team building - organizational change - coaching - public speaking Key Concepts vision empathy communication Questions to Reflect On - What inspires your team most? - How can you balance direction and inspiration? A Different Perspective Inspiration alone may not guarantee execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-inspire-886183/) [Few](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few/) [Few things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few-things/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-inspire-1491736/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managers/) [Managers Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managers-tell-1491737/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-leaders-437953/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Whereas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whereas/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [There are only three kinds of people. LEADERS. Those who take charge, build, inspire, and create. FOLLOWERS. Those who support leaders and work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-remender/there-are-only-three-kinds-of-people-leaders-those-who-take-charge/) [Rick Remender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-remender/) > [“The common goal of leaders is to increase the value and productivity of people. Leaders inspire others to do better than they would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-common-goal-of-leaders-is-to-increase-the-value-and-productivity/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The important word there is inspire. The key difference between managers and leaders is that managers tell people what to do, while leaders inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/the-important-word-there-is-inspire-the-key-difference-between/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [Managers tell you where you are, leaders tell you where you're going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rands/managers-tell-you-where-you-are-leaders-tell-you-where-you-re-going/) [Rands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rands/) > [“Human resource directors and hiring managers tell me they usually know within the first thirty seconds of a job interview whether or not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/human-resource-directors-and-hiring-managers-tell-me-they-usually/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [The system metaphor is a story that everyone--customers, programmers, and managers--can tell about how the system works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/the-system-metaphor-is-a-story-that-everyone-customers-programmers/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [What makes a leader great is not the fact that she (or he) has all the answers, but the ability to inspire and empower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/what-makes-a-leader-great-is-not-the-fact-that-she-or-he-has-all-the/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [We are drawn to leaders and organizations that are good at communicating what they believe. Their ability to make us feel like we belong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/we-are-drawn-to-leaders-and-organizations-that-are-good-at/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [America’s true power lies not in its will to dominate but in its ability to inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/america-s-true-power-lies-not-in-its-will-to-dominate-but-in-its/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [“Leadership entails the ability to inspire others to reach their full potential, fostering a collective vision, and empowering them to create a better tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/leadership-entails-the-ability-to-inspire-others-to-reach-their-full/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [It's your ability to inspire and uplift other people that matters, not your ability to outdo them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/it-s-your-ability-to-inspire-and-uplift-other-people-that-matters-not/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [And it's those who start with why, that have the ability to inspire those around them or find others who inspire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/and-it-s-those-who-start-with-why-that-have-the-ability-to-inspire/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [In honor of Oprah Winfrey: Even greater than the ability to inspire others with hope is the power to motivate them to give as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/in-honor-of-oprah-winfrey-even-greater-than-the-ability-to-inspire/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [Teaching is the ability to inspire learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/teaching-is-the-ability-to-inspire-learning/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [“Every company, organization or group with the ability to inspire starts with a person or small group of people who were inspired to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/every-company-organization-or-group-with-the-ability-to-inspire/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## More by Jeff Weiner > [Going public for the sake of going public is not really an optimal thing. You're going public because as a company you believe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/going-public-for-the-sake-of-going-public-is-not-really-an-optimal/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [Prioritization sounds like such a simple thing, but true prioritization starts with a very difficult question to answer, especially at a company with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/prioritization-sounds-like-such-a-simple-thing-but-true/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [In order to inspire people, that's going to have to come from somewhere deep inside of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/in-order-to-inspire-people-that-s-going-to-have-to-come-from/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [I've come to learn there is a virtuous cycle to transparency and a very vicious cycle of obfuscation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/i-ve-come-to-learn-there-is-a-virtuous-cycle-to-transparency-and-a/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [LinkedIn is increasingly becoming a very strong place for companies to develop their talent plans, their recruitment plans, and so there are ways in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/linkedin-is-increasingly-becoming-a-very-strong-place-for-companies/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [It starts with vision, and the clarity of vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/it-starts-with-vision-and-the-clarity-of-vision/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [You don't necessarily have to go public to get to the next level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/you-don-t-necessarily-have-to-go-public-to-get-to-the-next-level/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [The important word there is inspire. The key difference between managers and leaders is that managers tell people what to do, while leaders inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/the-important-word-there-is-inspire-the-key-difference-between/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [You have to maintain a culture of transformation and stay true to your values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/you-have-to-maintain-a-culture-of-transformation-and-stay-true-to/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [Data really powers everything that we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/data-really-powers-everything-that-we-do/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [Talent is our No.1 operating priority and our most important asset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/talent-is-our-no-1-operating-priority-and-our-most-important-asset/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [Facebook is massive in scale and scope. Twitter is a public communication forum, but if I'm following you, you're not necessarily following me. LinkedIn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/facebook-is-massive-in-scale-and-scope-twitter-is-a-public/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) [Explore all 13 Jeff Weiner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Managers will tell people what to do, whereas leaders will inspire them to do it, and there are a few things that go into the ability to inspire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Weiner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whereas-leaders-will-inspire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whereas-leaders-will-inspire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/jeff-weiner-35213_ability_managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whe_928339.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Managers will tell people what to do, whereas leaders will inspire them to do it, and there are a few things…” — Jeff Weiner", "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": "Jeff Weiner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Managers will tell people what to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whereas-leaders-will-inspire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/managers-will-tell-people-what-to-do-whereas-leaders-will-inspire/#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 } } ] } ```