--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great leaders don't succeed because they…" description: "\"Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.\" — Jon Gordon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/jon-gordon-1655_great-leader_great-leaders-don-t-succeed-because-they_2964386.png" --- # Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They… ![“Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/jon-gordon-1655_great-leader_great-leaders-don-t-succeed-because-they_2964386.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/jon-gordon-1655_great-leader_great-leaders-don-t-succeed-because-they_2964386.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/jon-gordon-1655_great-leader_great-leaders-don-t-succeed-because-they_2964386.png) > “Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.” [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership effectiveness stems from empowering others rather than personal prowess. **In simple terms:** Leaders win by uplifting others. Key Takeaway Focus on developing others' strengths. Themes leadership empowerment teamwork Mood inspirational motivational Type advice leadership When to use this quote - corporate management - coaching - education - nonprofit - sports teams Key Concepts servant leadership collective success Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster greatness in a teammate? - What barriers prevent you from empowering others? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for personal competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Great leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leaders/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Great leaders don't make excuses. They make things better. They are not unrealistic or blind to the difficulties they face. They simply are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-t-blackaby/great-leaders-don-t-make-excuses-they-make-things-better-they-are-not/) [Henry T. Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-t-blackaby/) > [Good leaders set vision, missions, and goals. 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Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Average leaders inspire people to punch a time clock. Great leaders inspire industry and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/average-leaders-inspire-people-to-punch-a-time-clock-great-leaders/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) ## More by Jon Gordon > [Joe Henderson, who I maybe, to me, if I had to pick one improviser in my life that I saw live that blew my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/joe-henderson-who-i-maybe-to-me-if-i-had-to-pick-one-improviser-in-my/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [“know that I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/know-that-i-m-not-a-human-being-having-a-spiritual-experience-i-m-a/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [It's very unlikely you're a genius, but, if you're ready to work at it hard and you want to listen to music all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/it-s-very-unlikely-you-re-a-genius-but-if-you-re-ready-to-work-at-it/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [The first jazz cruise that I was on was '91. I played with Maria Schneider and John Fedchock's band. Got to meet some amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/the-first-jazz-cruise-that-i-was-on-was-91-i-played-with-maria/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I just lucked into a lot of good people man. 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I remember hearing Oscar Peterson live at the Blue Note, which was very expensive, but...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-are-a-lot-of-people-that-impacted-me-i-remember-hearing-oscar/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [There's a lot of good people out here that want to help you grow and to help the music to continue to grow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-s-a-lot-of-good-people-out-here-that-want-to-help-you-grow-and/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums \[were in Sweet Basil\]. All those guys really took care of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/ernie-hayes-jimmy-lewis-and-either-belton-evans-or-khalil-mahdi-on/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [A true leader doesn't lead to gain power. They lead to empower and give power away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/a-true-leader-doesn-t-lead-to-gain-power-they-lead-to-empower-and/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ We had Bob's \[Gordon\] records, and he's on Clifford Brown's first record as a leader. 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Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-t-blackaby/) > [All great leaders choose great advisors, people they really trust for their governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/all-great-leaders-choose-great-advisors-people-they-really-trust-for/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Great leaders have three things; inner light, inner vision, and inner strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/great-leaders-have-three-things-inner-light-inner-vision-and-inner/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [I have seen productions of Julius Caesar that set it in a modern, Western context and it just looks as though they're getting rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-doran/i-have-seen-productions-of-julius-caesar-that-set-it-in-a-modern/) [Gregory Doran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-doran/) > [The sign of a great leader is knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/the-sign-of-a-great-leader-is-knowing-what-you-know-and-knowing-what/) [Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/) > [If you want to be a great leader, remember to treat all people with respect at all times. 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