--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your most important task as a leader is…" description: "\"Your most important task as a leader is to teach people how to think and ask the right questions so that the world doesn't go to hell if you take a day..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg" --- # Your most important task as a leader is to teach people… ![“Your most important task as a leader is to teach people how to think and ask the right questions so that the world doesn't go to hell if you take a day off.” quote by Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg) > “Your most important task as a leader is to teach people how to think and ask the right questions so that the world doesn't go to hell if you take a day off.” [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders should empower others to think critically, ensuring continuity when they are absent. **In simple terms:** Teach thinking, not just tasks. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thinking in teams. Themes leadership empowerment continuity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - training sessions - succession planning Key Concepts Critical thinking questioning resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed questioning habits in daily work? - What structures support independent decision‑making? A Different Perspective If the leader is the only source of insight, the organization may still falter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Days off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-off/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Actually, there is no more important task for a leader than to pick people. To make sure you have the very best people working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/actually-there-is-no-more-important-task-for-a-leader-than-to-pick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The task of a leader is to simplify. You should be able to explain where you need to go in two minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroen-van-der-veer/the-task-of-a-leader-is-to-simplify-you-should-be-able-to-explain/) Jeroen van der Veer > [While you, the leader, can teach many things, character is not taught easily to adults who arrive at your desk lacking it. Be cautious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/while-you-the-leader-can-teach-many-things-character-is-not-taught/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Knowledge is not enough to get desired results. You must have the more elusive ability to teach and to motivate. This defines a leader;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/knowledge-is-not-enough-to-get-desired-results-you-must-have-the-more/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [There is no more important task in a democracy than resolving the differences among people and finding a course of action that will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/there-is-no-more-important-task-in-a-democracy-than-resolving-the/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [Your ability to select your most important task at each moment, and then to get started on that task and to get it done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-ability-to-select-your-most-important-task-at-each-moment-and/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [ I felt when I was elected that the most important task on this island \[Ireland\] was to extend the hand of friendship right across… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/i-felt-when-i-was-elected-that-the-most-important-task-on-this-island/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [The important task rarely must be done today, or even this week...But the urgent task calls for instant action...The momentary appeal of these tasks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hummel/the-important-task-rarely-must-be-done-today-or-even-this-week-but/) Charles Hummel > [The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-task-of-a-leader-is-to-keep-hope-alive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. The public does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-task-of-the-leader-is-to-get-his-people-from-where-they-are-to/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-task-of-the-leader-is-to-get-his-people-from-where-they-are-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. —Henry Kissinger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-robbins/the-task-of-the-leader-is-to-get-his-people-from-where-they-are-to-3/) James Robbins > [Perhaps the central task of the leader of leaders thus becomes the development of other leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/perhaps-the-central-task-of-the-leader-of-leaders-thus-becomes-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Part of the task of the leader is to make others participate in his leadership. The best leader knows how to make his followers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/part-of-the-task-of-the-leader-is-to-make-others-participate-in-his/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first." This is another way of saying that if you have two important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-have-to-eat-two-frogs-eat-the-ugliest-one-first-this-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Jeffrey Pfeffer > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Business school graduates from the best schools earn large salaries and frequently rise to positions of great power. It would be nice if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/business-school-graduates-from-the-best-schools-earn-large-salaries/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The individual attributes of warmth and competence are often perceived to be negatively correlated. That doesn't mean they actually are, but that's how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-individual-attributes-of-warmth-and-competence-are-often/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Today, if the CEO thinks it's a good idea, it's done everywhere; if the CEO thinks it's a bad idea, it's done nowhere. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/today-if-the-ceo-thinks-it-s-a-good-idea-it-s-done-everywhere-if-the/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Almost no one as I think most leadership books are a joke. They are, as I note in Leadership BS, frequently based on wishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/almost-no-one-as-i-think-most-leadership-books-are-a-joke-they-are-as/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Authenticity seems like sort of a joke. Actually I believe it was the late comedian George Burns who said, "if you can fake sincerity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/authenticity-seems-like-sort-of-a-joke-actually-i-believe-it-was-the/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Everyone faces defeats, setbacks, reversals of fortune. But just like water wearing away rock, persistence triumphs. Resilience is one of the most important qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/everyone-faces-defeats-setbacks-reversals-of-fortune-but-just-like/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Many companies believe incentives, financial incentives, are the answer to every problem or issue. But people are motivated by much more than money. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/many-companies-believe-incentives-financial-incentives-are-the-answer/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Leaders are not modest, and more importantly, the extensive social science research on narcissism, self-promotion, and similar constructs shows that these qualities and behaviors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/leaders-are-not-modest-and-more-importantly-the-extensive-social/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“When two people always agree, one of them is unnecessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/when-two-people-always-agree-one-of-them-is-unnecessary/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [I completely reject the idea that working adults need to be treated like infants or worse and not told the realities, harsh or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/i-completely-reject-the-idea-that-working-adults-need-to-be-treated/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The stories leaders and others tell, few of which are true, are a lousy foundation on which to base any sort of science, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/the-stories-leaders-and-others-tell-few-of-which-are-true-are-a-lousy/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Being memorable equals getting picked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/being-memorable-equals-getting-picked/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“(like the BMW mechanic who handed Robert Sutton a survey and pleaded for a five on a five-point scale, because otherwise he would get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/like-the-bmw-mechanic-who-handed-robert-sutton-a-survey-and-pleaded/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Typical pay increases are not enough to motivate employees, but they are enough to irritate them. … Even when companies create seemingly significant pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/typical-pay-increases-are-not-enough-to-motivate-employees-but-they/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) [Explore all 78 Jeffrey Pfeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## More Days off quotes > [There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/there-s-pros-and-cons-of-a-big-church-cons-is-i-don-t-get-to-know/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [My works are dear to me, each in its own way, I shall have to answer for them on the Day off Judgement. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/my-works-are-dear-to-me-each-in-its-own-way-i-shall-have-to-answer/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [And I remember leaving my place in L.A. and - my father is a big fight fan - and I said, 'Dad, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/and-i-remember-leaving-my-place-in-l-a-and-my-father-is-a-big-fight/) [Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/) > [I'm never bored, never ever bored. If I've got a day off I'll sit in a cafe and watch and observe. I'm a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/i-m-never-bored-never-ever-bored-if-i-ve-got-a-day-off-i-ll-sit-in-a/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [Henry David Thoreau, who never earned much of a living or sustained a relationship with any woman that wasn't brotherly -- who lived mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/henry-david-thoreau-who-never-earned-much-of-a-living-or-sustained-a/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [Whenever we play the Twins, Torii Hunter has a major impact on defense. He tells the left fielder and the right fielder to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-macha/whenever-we-play-the-twins-torii-hunter-has-a-major-impact-on-defense/) Ken Macha > [I'm the best promoter in the world because I haven't taken a day off work since I left the penitentiary, and because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/i-m-the-best-promoter-in-the-world-because-i-haven-t-taken-a-day-off/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [I am simply submerged in work from five in the morning to eleven at night; almost need a few days off to escape a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-neutra/i-am-simply-submerged-in-work-from-five-in-the-morning-to-eleven-at/) [Richard Neutra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-neutra/) > [There are no days off in our division. Even a team like Tampa Bay can beat you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-beckett/there-are-no-days-off-in-our-division-even-a-team-like-tampa-bay-can/) [Josh Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-beckett/) > [Lovers should also have their days off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-clifford-barney/lovers-should-also-have-their-days-off/) [Natalie Clifford Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-clifford-barney/) > [The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/the-people-who-were-trying-to-make-this-world-worse-are-not-taking/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Each time that I have two or three days off, I'm off somewhere in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-brochere/each-time-that-i-have-two-or-three-days-off-i-m-off-somewhere-in/) [Lizzie Brochere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-brochere/) > [There's nothing like coming home here, having the day off or morning off and going surfing. In Orlando I don't know what I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/there-s-nothing-like-coming-home-here-having-the-day-off-or-morning/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [It's a risk-reward thing. If I do go out and try and play and get hurt again, then I'm definitely out. I've got no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ralston/it-s-a-risk-reward-thing-if-i-do-go-out-and-try-and-play-and-get-hurt/) Steve Ralston > [A good thing is I've been playing tennis I think every day for the last two months. I really haven't had a day off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-edberg/a-good-thing-is-i-ve-been-playing-tennis-i-think-every-day-for-the/) [Stefan Edberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-edberg/) [Browse all 147 Days off quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-off/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your most important task as a leader is to teach people how to think and ask the right questions so that the world doesn't go to hell if you take a day off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Pfeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is-to-teach-people-how-to-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Days off" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is-to-teach-people-how-to-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/jeffrey-pfeffer-8575_days-off_your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is_3159217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your most important task as a leader is to teach people how to think and ask the right questions so that the…” — Jeffrey Pfeffer", "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": "Jeffrey Pfeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your most important task as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is-to-teach-people-how-to-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/your-most-important-task-as-a-leader-is-to-teach-people-how-to-think/#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 } } ] } ```