--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To lead yourself, use your head; to lead…" description: "\"To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart. Always touch a person's heart before you ask him for a hand.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-c-maxwell-113_asks_to-lead-yourself-use-your-head-to-lead-o_2602586.jpg" --- # To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your… ![“To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart. Always touch a person's heart before you ask him for a hand.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-c-maxwell-113_asks_to-lead-yourself-use-your-head-to-lead-o_2602586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-c-maxwell-113_asks_to-lead-yourself-use-your-head-to-lead-o_2602586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-c-maxwell-113_asks_to-lead-yourself-use-your-head-to-lead-o_2602586.jpg) > “To lead yourself, use your head; to lead others, use your heart. Always touch a person's heart before you ask him for a hand.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## 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 requires intellect for self‑direction and empathy for guiding others, connecting emotionally before requesting cooperation. **In simple terms:** Lead yourself with logic, others with empathy. Key Takeaway Combine head and heart in leadership. Themes leadership empathy communication Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - team management - mentoring - conflict resolution Key Concepts emotional intelligence influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance rational decisions with emotional connection? - When should you prioritize logic over feeling? A Different Perspective May overlook rational analysis if over‑relying on emotion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Head Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-lead-1959494/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-ask-1039630/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Person Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-heart/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-head-318260/) [Use Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-heart/) ## Related quotes > [To lead yourself use your head; to lead others use your hart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/to-lead-yourself-use-your-head-to-lead-others-use-your-hart/) [James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/) > [“Most people say use your head; I say use your heart. It will guide you closer to where you want to be. The head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/most-people-say-use-your-head-i-say-use-your-heart-it-will-guide-you/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [When you handle yourself, use your head; when you handle others, use your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-reed/when-you-handle-yourself-use-your-head-when-you-handle-others-use/) [Donna Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-reed/) > [“You must use your heart to decide the destination, but use your head to plot the journey. People who only listen to their hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/you-must-use-your-heart-to-decide-the-destination-but-use-your-head-2/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-handle-yourself-use-your-head-to-handle-others-use-your-heart-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To handle yorself use your head, To handle others use your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-handle-yorself-use-your-head-to-handle-others-use-your-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-touch-a-heart-before-they-ask-for-a-hand/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“Consciously put your attention in the heart and ask your heart what to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/consciously-put-your-attention-in-the-heart-and-ask-your-heart-what/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“I urge you to sit with yourself for 5 minutes and pour your heart out, ask yourself the serious questions ~ not the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/i-urge-you-to-sit-with-yourself-for-5-minutes-and-pour-your-heart-out/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [“When you can’t reach the standards of another’s heart you must ask yourself, "What value do I put on my soul that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/when-you-can-t-reach-the-standards-of-another-s-heart-you-must-ask/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [Great thoughts and a pure heart, that is what we should ask from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/great-thoughts-and-a-pure-heart-that-is-what-we-should-ask-from-god/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Your heart will never ask your permission to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-quindlen/your-heart-will-never-ask-your-permission-to-love/) [Kelly Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-quindlen/) > [“For news of the heart ask the face. GUINEA”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-leslau/for-news-of-the-heart-ask-the-face-guinea/) [C.W. Leslau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-leslau/) > [“Hi, this Vipin Raj, By my own experience, some words to all of you. and for who worship and believed in God. "Have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zorapuri-vipin-raj/hi-this-vipin-raj-by-my-own-experience-some-words-to-all-of-you-and/) [Zorapuri Vipin Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zorapuri-vipin-raj/) > [“The heart has all the answers. Try it now. Put your hands upon your heart. Ask a question that you already know the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mcgahan/the-heart-has-all-the-answers-try-it-now-put-your-hands-upon-your/) [Kate McGahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mcgahan/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. 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