--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Make sure that team members know they are…" description: "\"Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.\" — John Wooden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png" --- # Make sure that team members know they are working with… ![“Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png) > “Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## 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 involves collaboration, making each member feel like a partner rather than a subordinate. **In simple terms:** Lead as a partner, not a boss. Key Takeaway Foster teamwork and shared purpose. Themes leadership collaboration empowerment Mood inspirational pragmatic Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - project teams - sports coaching - workplace meetings Key Concepts servant leadership team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance input with direction? - When should you take charge? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on consensus can slow decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team member](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-member/) [Team Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-members/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [When you talk to people about their practical life, for example when they're at work, like the rail industry, the RMT members know better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/when-you-talk-to-people-about-their-practical-life-for-example-when/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [On their 20th album together, Melvins' members still know how to throw their weight around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fantano/on-their-20th-album-together-melvins-members-still-know-how-to-throw/) [Anthony Fantano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fantano/) > [I'd never managed anyone before, so I don't have a lot of experience. But I'm lucky - I have a lot of team members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/i-d-never-managed-anyone-before-so-i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-experience/) [Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/) > [We strive for a culture of constant communication. Team members know in real time if there are performance issues. Team leaders know in real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/we-strive-for-a-culture-of-constant-communication-team-members-know/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Team members who feel threatened but who are not aware of it become rigid - and that stops teamwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-schutz/team-members-who-feel-threatened-but-who-are-not-aware-of-it-become/) [William Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-schutz/) > [Running on different types of racetracks is challenging - not only for the drivers, but even more for the team members who have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-andretti/running-on-different-types-of-racetracks-is-challenging-not-only-for/) [Michael Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-andretti/) > [“Every team member has the responsibility to stop the line every time they see something that is out of standard. That's how we put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-k-liker/every-team-member-has-the-responsibility-to-stop-the-line-every-time/) [Jeffrey K. Liker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-k-liker/) > [If you dread the thought of wasted time in meetings, chances are that your team members feel the same way. Team members are also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-zwilling/if-you-dread-the-thought-of-wasted-time-in-meetings-chances-are-that/) [Martin Zwilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-zwilling/) > [Team members have to be focused on the collective good of the team. Too often, they focus their attention on their department, their budget,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/team-members-have-to-be-focused-on-the-collective-good-of-the-team/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [If you set up an atmosphere of community and trust, it becomes a tradition. Older team members will establish your credibility with newer ones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/if-you-set-up-an-atmosphere-of-community-and-trust-it-becomes-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [In the build-up to a race I begin practising two days beforehand with two other team members. We have an hour and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/in-the-build-up-to-a-race-i-begin-practising-two-days-beforehand-with/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [The freedom to do your own thing ends when you have obligations and responsibilities. If you want to fail yourself - you can -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/the-freedom-to-do-your-own-thing-ends-when-you-have-obligations-and/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [You can have successful teams where people hate but deeply respect each other; the opposite (love but not respect among team members) is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-levchin/you-can-have-successful-teams-where-people-hate-but-deeply-respect/) [Max Levchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-levchin/) > [Blending the talents of your team members is crucial to basketball success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kundla/blending-the-talents-of-your-team-members-is-crucial-to-basketball/) John Kundla > [Generating diverse ideas requires being clear about the kind of input needed and creating multiple ways for diverse team members to share their ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/generating-diverse-ideas-requires-being-clear-about-the-kind-of-input/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More Coaching quotes > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Coaching Netherlands remains one of my ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/coaching-netherlands-remains-one-of-my-ambitions/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [There's not one year to the next that you don't go through a number of changes, whether it's personnel, whether it's coaching, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-not-one-year-to-the-next-that-you-don-t-go-through-a-number/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [It's not that easy for some of these players in China to get the coaching they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chang/it-s-not-that-easy-for-some-of-these-players-in-china-to-get-the/) [Michael Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chang/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [You never want to go through a coaching change mid-cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/you-never-want-to-go-through-a-coaching-change-mid-cycle/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have my very own school - no way. And I had no idea I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liang-chow/i-never-thought-in-my-wildest-dreams-that-i-would-have-my-very-own/) [Liang Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liang-chow/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/set-goals-high-goals-for-you-and-your-organization-when-your/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [From a player's standpoint, it's on you to make sure that you're watching the film, you're doing everything during the week necessary to improve,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/from-a-player-s-standpoint-it-s-on-you-to-make-sure-that-you-re/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [For most of the projects I've worked on, I've been entrusted with some degree of musical responsibility, even if it's just like coaching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robbins/for-most-of-the-projects-i-ve-worked-on-i-ve-been-entrusted-with-some/) [J. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robbins/) > [Coaching is very complex: it's like a puzzle, and many things need to come together to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/coaching-is-very-complex-it-s-like-a-puzzle-and-many-things-need-to/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) [Browse all 1,416 Coaching quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Wooden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-are-working-with-you-not-for-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coaching" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-are-working-with-you-not-for-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa3/john-wooden-420_coaching_make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-ar_1538663.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.” — John Wooden", "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": "John Wooden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Make sure that team members know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-are-working-with-you-not-for-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/make-sure-that-team-members-know-they-are-working-with-you-not-for-you/#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 } } ] } ```