--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don’t understand or believe in the…" description: "\"“If you don’t understand or believe in the decisions coming down from your leadership, it is up to you to ask questions until you understand how and wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/jocko-willink-3347_ask-questions_if-you-don-t-understand-or-believe-in-th_200005.jpg" --- # If you don’t understand or believe in the decisions coming… ![“If you don’t understand or believe in the decisions coming down from your leadership, it is up to you to ask questions until you understand how and why those decisions are being made. Not knowing the why prohibits you from believing in the mission. When you are in a leadership position, that is a…” quote by Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/jocko-willink-3347_ask-questions_if-you-don-t-understand-or-believe-in-th_200005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/jocko-willink-3347_ask-questions_if-you-don-t-understand-or-believe-in-th_200005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a21/jocko-willink-3347_ask-questions_if-you-don-t-understand-or-believe-in-th_200005.jpg) > ““If you don’t understand or believe in the decisions coming down from your leadership, it is up to you to ask questions until you understand how and why those decisions are being made. Not knowing the why prohibits you from believing in the mission. When you are in a leadership position, that is a recipe for failure, and it is unacceptable. As a leader, you must believe.”” [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must question decisions to understand their purpose; without understanding, commitment falters, leading to failure. **In simple terms:** Leaders need to understand why decisions are made. Key Takeaway Ask questions until clarity is achieved. Themes leadership accountability clarity Mood determined serious Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - strategic planning - crisis management Key Concepts Decision analysis mission alignment Questions to Reflect On - What questions reveal the purpose behind a decision? - How can leaders foster open dialogue without undermining authority? A Different Perspective Over‑questioning can erode trust if not balanced with confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [“In order to convince and inspire others to follow and accomplish a mission, a leader must be a true believer in the mission. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/in-order-to-convince-and-inspire-others-to-follow-and-accomplish-a/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [More than anything else, I believe it's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives that determine our destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/more-than-anything-else-i-believe-it-s-our-decisions-not-the/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [No one wants to be a polarizer, but on the other hand, if you think you're doing right and you believe the decisions you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/no-one-wants-to-be-a-polarizer-but-on-the-other-hand-if-you-think-you/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Instead of waiting for a leader you can believe in, try this: Become a leader you can believe in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-slap/instead-of-waiting-for-a-leader-you-can-believe-in-try-this-become-a/) [Stan Slap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-slap/) > [For me, I think it's such a notable point to make that a leader had to believe, a leader had to see that potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-hammon/for-me-i-think-it-s-such-a-notable-point-to-make-that-a-leader-had-to/) [Becky Hammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-hammon/) > [Why understand when you can believe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/why-understand-when-you-can-believe/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/for-i-do-not-seek-to-understand-in-order-to-believe-but-i-believe-in/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [We don't believe because we understand. We understand because we believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/we-don-t-believe-because-we-understand-we-understand-because-we/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [As soon as you understand 2 x 4 you can't believe there was a time when you didn't understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-lewis/as-soon-as-you-understand-2-x-4-you-can-t-believe-there-was-a-time/) [Cynthia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-lewis/) > [I do not try, Lord, to attain Your lofty heights, because my understanding is in no way equal to it. But I do desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-try-lord-to-attain-your-lofty-heights-because-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-of-hippo/understanding-is-the-reward-of-faith-therefore-seek-not-to-understand/) [St. Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-augustine-of-hippo/) > [Know why you believe, understand what you believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-why-you-believe-understand-what-you-believe-and-possess-a-reason/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/all-that-i-say-is-examine-inquire-look-into-the-nature-of-things/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [Don't assume that because everyone believes a thing, that it is right or wrong. Reason things out for yourself. Work to get answers on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/don-t-assume-that-because-everyone-believes-a-thing-that-it-is-right/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [“For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-anselm/for-i-do-not-seek-to-understand-in-order-that-i-may-believe-but-i/) St. Anselm ## More by Jocko Willink > [“The best leaders checked their egos, accepted blame, sought out constructive criticism, and took detailed notes for improvement. They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/the-best-leaders-checked-their-egos-accepted-blame-sought-out/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If I'm going to get you to do stuff, I need to lead you. I can't just order you to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-i-m-going-to-get-you-to-do-stuff-i-need-to-lead-you-i-can-t-just/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“The goal of all leaders should be to work themselves out of a job. This means leaders must be heavily engaged in training and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/the-goal-of-all-leaders-should-be-to-work-themselves-out-of-a-job/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [With Benghazi, I don't see anyone saying, 'Hey look, I am overall responsible for this and therefore, I take responsibility for what happened. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/with-benghazi-i-don-t-see-anyone-saying-hey-look-i-am-overall/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“The leader must own everything in his or her world. There is no one else to blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/the-leader-must-own-everything-in-his-or-her-world-there-is-no-one/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the burden of command and the deep meaning of responsibility: the leader is truly and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/weaker-commanders-would-get-a-solid-explanation-about-the-burden-of/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If I've got something do. I'm going to attack it. I'm going to attack that stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-i-ve-got-something-do-i-m-going-to-attack-it-i-m-going-to-attack/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“Leaders must accept total responsibility, own problems that inhibit performance, and develop solutions to those problems. A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/leaders-must-accept-total-responsibility-own-problems-that-inhibit/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [One of the best mental disciplines for people to implement is simply putting together a schedule or a task list and actually executing it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/one-of-the-best-mental-disciplines-for-people-to-implement-is-simply/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If you have to stand and fight, you train yourself so that you're able to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-you-have-to-stand-and-fight-you-train-yourself-so-that-you-re-able/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [If you try and work out at 4:30 in the afternoon, how many people are going to chip away at that time? Your boss,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-you-try-and-work-out-at-4-30-in-the-afternoon-how-many-people-are/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [I'm always reading the next book. Taking notes. Highlighting, researching, studying. It doesn't stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/i-m-always-reading-the-next-book-taking-notes-highlighting/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“Regardless of how you think an operation is going to unfold,” I answered, “the enemy gets their say as well—and they are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/regardless-of-how-you-think-an-operation-is-going-to-unfold-i/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/no-bad-teams-only-bad-leaders/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“Staying ahead of the curve prevents a leader from being overwhelmed when pressure is applied and enables greater decisiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/staying-ahead-of-the-curve-prevents-a-leader-from-being-overwhelmed/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) [Explore all 133 Jocko Willink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) ## More Ask questions quotes > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“you do that all the time you know. you ask me questions when you know the answer will piss you off. ask me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-do-that-all-the-time-you-know-you-ask-me-questions-when-you-know/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I feel really strongly about not wanting to overly guide the reader about what he or she should think. I really trust the reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-feel-really-strongly-about-not-wanting-to-overly-guide-the-reader/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [...all the answers are but waiting for us while we, poor fools, ask questions and wait for the secrets of God to open themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-asad/all-the-answers-are-but-waiting-for-us-while-we-poor-fools-ask/) [Muhammad Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-asad/) > [“It’s funny how the devout pretend like they want people to ask questions, but really they only want you to ask the questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tal-m-klein/it-s-funny-how-the-devout-pretend-like-they-want-people-to-ask/) [Tal M. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tal-m-klein/) > [“This was a success in itself, but it came with an added and unexpected benefit: The act of thinking about the problem and responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-was-a-success-in-itself-but-it-came-with-an-added-and-unexpected/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [I feel like a good director provokes you to ask questions about your character, but doesn't answer them for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-reed/i-feel-like-a-good-director-provokes-you-to-ask-questions-about-your/) [Crystal Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-reed/) > [“You ask questions. You take your life seriously, but you don't take yourself too seriously. You're going to take over the world, and change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/you-ask-questions-you-take-your-life-seriously-but-you-don-t-take/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [The most subversive people are those who ask questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-most-subversive-people-are-those-who-ask-questions/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Rules for texting a girl: 1. Don't take 40 minutes to reply. 2. Use good grammar. 3. Ask Questions. 4. Use the :) face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rules-for-texting-a-girl-1-don-t-take-40-minutes-to-reply-2-use-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 828 Ask questions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you don’t understand or believe in the decisions coming down from your leadership, it is up to you to ask questions until you understand how and why those decisions are being made. Not knowing the why prohibits you from believing in the mission. When you are in a leadership position, that is a recipe for failure, and it is unacceptable. 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