---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You've got to lead from a position of…"
description: "\"You've got to lead from a position of strength.\" — Kevin de Leon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg"
---

#  You've got to lead from a position of strength.

![“You've got to lead from a position of strength.” quote by Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg)

> “You've got to lead from a position of strength.”

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leadership is most effective when it stems from confidence and authority.

**In simple terms:** Lead with confidence.

Key Takeaway

Build strength before leading.

Themes

leadership confidence authority

Mood

inspirational assertive

Type

motivational leadership

When to use this quote

- team management
- political campaigns
- community organizing

Key Concepts

political strategy personal power

Questions to Reflect On

- What strengths do you need to develop?
- How can you balance strength with humility?

A Different Perspective

Strength alone may alienate if not paired with empathy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/)

## Related quotes

> [“He'd also warn me that even if I was in a position of strength, whether at work or in relationships, I had to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/he-d-also-warn-me-that-even-if-i-was-in-a-position-of-strength/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

> [I never got a lead role and I make no bones about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwajeet-pradhan/i-never-got-a-lead-role-and-i-make-no-bones-about-it/)

[Vishwajeet Pradhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwajeet-pradhan/)

> [You've got to listen but you've also got to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/you-ve-got-to-listen-but-you-ve-also-got-to-lead/)

[Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/)

> [I am not a supporter of the rhetoric of, 'Dear, dear, the toys have got lead paint.' If I had a manufacturer in China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-shipley/i-am-not-a-supporter-of-the-rhetoric-of-dear-dear-the-toys-have-got/)

[Jenny Shipley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-shipley/)

> [I'm in a great position now where I've got recognition. I'm not recognized too much. I think I'm recognized enough by the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-chandler/i-m-in-a-great-position-now-where-i-ve-got-recognition-i-m-not/)

[Kyle Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-chandler/)

> [I have NEVER worked with a better lead generating company! Thank You Zillow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-rascoff/i-have-never-worked-with-a-better-lead-generating-company-thank-you/)

Spencer Rascoff

> [When you have an opportunity to take the lead and you don't, most of the time something bad happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-baker/when-you-have-an-opportunity-to-take-the-lead-and-you-don-t-most-of/)

[Dusty Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-baker/)

> [I love making movies, and being in any that I can be in. I'd like to be in those giant movies, as the fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-making-movies-and-being-in-any-that-i-can-be-in-i-d-like-to-be/)

[Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/)

> [I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-a-soul-of-lead-so-stakes-me-to-the-ground-i-cannot-move/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Trans actors, just like cisgender actors, need to build experience before getting lead roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-root/trans-actors-just-like-cisgender-actors-need-to-build-experience/)

[Rebecca Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-root/)

> [Somehow, I don't see myself doing a lead role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badshah/somehow-i-don-t-see-myself-doing-a-lead-role/)

[Badshah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/badshah/)

> [When you have a big lead, you relax and don't concentrate as much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-you-have-a-big-lead-you-relax-and-don-t-concentrate-as-much/)

[Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/)

> [Excluding certain problems from the political debate by making it a crime to discuss them won't lead to the disappearance of these concerns, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/excluding-certain-problems-from-the-political-debate-by-making-it-a/)

[Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/)

> [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/)

> [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/)

[Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/)

## More by Kevin de Leon

> [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [We can't cross our fingers and hope that President Donald Trump can 'learn and change.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-can-t-cross-our-fingers-and-hope-that-president-donald-trump-can/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [I'm not into political gamesmanship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-m-not-into-political-gamesmanship/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [California Democrats - we fight on the front lines - we don't equivocate on the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/california-democrats-we-fight-on-the-front-lines-we-don-t-equivocate/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [We will not lift a single finger or spend a single cent to be a cog in the Trump deportation machine, and we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-will-not-lift-a-single-finger-or-spend-a-single-cent-to-be-a-cog/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [While we need to provide leadership and stability to the world, we should do that through diplomacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/while-we-need-to-provide-leadership-and-stability-to-the-world-we/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [Unlike Washington, the California legislature has proved that cooperation is both possible and essential to successful policymaking, while stubborn absolutism will have you trailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/unlike-washington-the-california-legislature-has-proved-that/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [My mother passed away young - she died from ovarian cancer at just 54 years old. Her sacrifices for my sisters and I evoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/my-mother-passed-away-young-she-died-from-ovarian-cancer-at-just-54/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [I grew up in the streets of San Diego, and I love this city dearly. I love this city. San Diego is my home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-grew-up-in-the-streets-of-san-diego-and-i-love-this-city-dearly-i/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [I know - firsthand - that California works best when everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It's a lesson that's hard to learn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-know-firsthand-that-california-works-best-when-everyone-has-the/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [It is erroneous and profoundly irresponsible to suggest that up to three million undocumented immigrants living in America are dangerous criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/it-is-erroneous-and-profoundly-irresponsible-to-suggest-that-up-to/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [I don't believe that all folks who supported Donald Trump are racist. I think that there was a lot of economic anxiety, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-don-t-believe-that-all-folks-who-supported-donald-trump-are-racist/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [In California, we celebrate our diversity. We celebrate who we are because we're proud of who we are; we're proud of where our families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/in-california-we-celebrate-our-diversity-we-celebrate-who-we-are/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [What we have done dramatically in California is lead the entire nation. For example, we have created more jobs in clean energy in California…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/what-we-have-done-dramatically-in-california-is-lead-the-entire/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

> [Yes, we absolutely need to eliminate the single-use plastic bag, but we don't have to eliminate the jobs of hardworking Californians to accomplish this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/yes-we-absolutely-need-to-eliminate-the-single-use-plastic-bag-but-we/)

[Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

[Explore all 87 Kevin de Leon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/)

## More Got quotes

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [I've got three kids, so there's not much downtime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-froning-jr/i-ve-got-three-kids-so-there-s-not-much-downtime/)

[Rich Froning Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-froning-jr/)

> [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/)

[Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/)

> [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

> [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/)

[Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/)

> [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/)

[Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/)

> [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/)

[Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/)

> [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/)

[Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/)

> [When I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist, pretty much to the left. But not when I left the university. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/when-i-was-a-sophomore-at-usc-i-was-a-socialist-pretty-much-to-the/)

[John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/)

> [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/)

[Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [I'm perfectly flawed... I've got tons of flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-perfectly-flawed-i-ve-got-tons-of-flaws/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/)

[Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/)

> [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/)

[W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/)

Browse all 6,932 Got quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You've got to lead from a position of strength.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kevin de Leon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-strength/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Got"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-strength/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/kevin-de-leon-7780_got_you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-st_2154410.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You've got to lead from a position of strength.” — Kevin de Leon",
                "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": "Kevin de Leon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You've got to lead from a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-strength/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/you-ve-got-to-lead-from-a-position-of-strength/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
