---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometime you have to follow in order to…"
description: "\"Sometime you have to follow in order to lead.\" — Kevin McCarty"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg"
---

#  Sometime you have to follow in order to lead.

![“Sometime you have to follow in order to lead.” quote by Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg)

> “Sometime you have to follow in order to lead.”

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

## About This Quote

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

Sometimes leading requires first learning the role by following others.

**In simple terms:** Follow to learn how to lead effectively.

Key Takeaway

Observe before directing.

Themes

leadership learning humility

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- team projects
- mentorship programs
- organizational change

Key Concepts

role modeling skill acquisition

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it better to lead directly?
- How to transition from follower to leader?

A Different Perspective

Following may limit authority perception.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [What I know about me is that, in order to lead, you also have to know how to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/what-i-know-about-me-is-that-in-order-to-lead-you-also-have-to-know/)

[Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/)

> [In order to lead people, you have to get to know them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/in-order-to-lead-people-you-have-to-get-to-know-them/)

[Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/)

> [What I learned from boxing and what everyone can take in real life is to follow directions, follow order. Don't give nobody a hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/what-i-learned-from-boxing-and-what-everyone-can-take-in-real-life-is/)

[Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/)

> [I wanted the moments of my life to follow and order themselves like those of a life remembered. You might as well try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-wanted-the-moments-of-my-life-to-follow-and-order-themselves-like/)

[Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/)

> [To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/to-get-others-to-come-into-our-ways-of-thinking-we-must-go-over-to/)

[William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/)

> [“I realize now that there is a certain order to living; a person suffers when they don't follow that order. I must learn everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-valcourt/i-realize-now-that-there-is-a-certain-order-to-living-a-person/)

Juliet Valcourt

> [“I'm going to find a way to fix you" "I'm not broken", Amy says in a voice as empty as her eyes. I lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/i-m-going-to-find-a-way-to-fix-you-i-m-not-broken-amy-says-in-a-voice/)

[Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/)

> [No man will ever be a big executive who feels that he must, either openly or under cover, follow up every order he gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-mahin/no-man-will-ever-be-a-big-executive-who-feels-that-he-must-either/)

[John Lee Mahin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-mahin/)

> [Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/lead-me-follow-me-or-get-out-of-my-way/)

[George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/)

> [Don't follow your dream - lead it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-feldt/don-t-follow-your-dream-lead-it/)

[Gloria Feldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-feldt/)

> [Whether individuals or organisations, we follow those who lead not because we have to, but because we want to. We follow those who lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/whether-individuals-or-organisations-we-follow-those-who-lead-not/)

[Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/)

> [“Your character and attitude is what takes the lead in your leadership role and you follow them as a true leader". Poor character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/your-character-and-attitude-is-what-takes-the-lead-in-your-leadership/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [One of the great things about unions is they're member driven and give us the great ability to both lead and follow at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rosenberg/one-of-the-great-things-about-unions-is-they-re-member-driven-and/)

[Alan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rosenberg/)

> [“Real kings and queens are people whose heads are crowned with dreams as they sit on the throne of passion. They rule with visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/real-kings-and-queens-are-people-whose-heads-are-crowned-with-dreams/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [It is time for a leader who will lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-is-time-for-a-leader-who-will-lead/)

[Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/)

## More by Kevin McCarty

> [After a bad relationship and you think life is over when its far from, pick your self up and show the person who let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/after-a-bad-relationship-and-you-think-life-is-over-when-its-far-from/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [If you don't like club beats take a HIT OF E and you will love the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/if-you-don-t-like-club-beats-take-a-hit-of-e-and-you-will-love-the/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Loyal people don't get enough credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/loyal-people-don-t-get-enough-credit/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [The biggest pain in the ass when your battery on your phone is dieing..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/the-biggest-pain-in-the-ass-when-your-battery-on-your-phone-is-dieing/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Being a third wheel isn't the best, but use it towards your advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/being-a-third-wheel-isn-t-the-best-but-use-it-towards-your-advantage/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [I been listening to Rick Ross and all the guy raps about is cars he can't even fit in.. WTF](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/i-been-listening-to-rick-ross-and-all-the-guy-raps-about-is-cars-he/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [I went a million miles for you and you couldn't run 1k to me.. That's why your my ex and she is my new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/i-went-a-million-miles-for-you-and-you-couldn-t-run-1k-to-me-that-s/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [I thought she was the 1 but actually she was 2 be left alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/i-thought-she-was-the-1-but-actually-she-was-2-be-left-alone/)

[Kevin Mccarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [People call me and always leave a voice mail to call them right back.. Who the hell are they ? That option is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/people-call-me-and-always-leave-a-voice-mail-to-call-them-right-back/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [We finally found our way we got the world in our hands...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/we-finally-found-our-way-we-got-the-world-in-our-hands/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Being happy with the little that you have. There are people who have nothing who can put on a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/being-happy-with-the-little-that-you-have-there-are-people-who-have/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [You should probably buy your condoms before your next wild vacation to Denmark. The Danish word for condom is Svangerskabsforebyggendemiddel. Try saying that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/you-should-probably-buy-your-condoms-before-your-next-wild-vacation/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Welcome to facebook: Where it is so easy to become a Facebook outlaw just throw a pic up with some gangsta signs, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/welcome-to-facebook-where-it-is-so-easy-to-become-a-facebook-outlaw/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [There is always that one person you will truly love or think about. She is the one who drives you crazy. She has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/there-is-always-that-one-person-you-will-truly-love-or-think-about/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [Me breaking up with my Ex is a another girls come up!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/me-breaking-up-with-my-ex-is-a-another-girls-come-up/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

[Explore all 623 Kevin McCarty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

## More Follow quotes

> [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/)

[J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/)

> [I use a lot of Pinterest to follow trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rubio/i-use-a-lot-of-pinterest-to-follow-trends/)

[Ricky Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rubio/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [“Love Is Like Trail..You Follow You Reach One You Like To Keep,And you leave..So after Others Can Follow Your Trail…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khode-maiish-v/love-is-like-trail-you-follow-you-reach-one-you-like-to-keep-and-you/)

khode maiish v

> [“I follow the Law—the Most Excellent Law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-follow-the-law-the-most-excellent-law/)

[Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/)

> [What do you want for your life? And how are you going to get it? Figure that out. And then follow me to gloryville.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ellis/what-do-you-want-for-your-life-and-how-are-you-going-to-get-it-figure/)

[Jason Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ellis/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [Follow your foot steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/follow-your-foot-steps/)

[Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/)

> [You have to follow your instinct, and that's what I've tried to do all my life, whether in music or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erol-alkan/you-have-to-follow-your-instinct-and-that-s-what-i-ve-tried-to-do-all/)

[Erol Alkan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erol-alkan/)

> [Islam believes that Jesus is a prophet, and they honour him - highly - and they respect him, and they follow his teachings. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haaz-sleiman/islam-believes-that-jesus-is-a-prophet-and-they-honour-him-highly-and/)

[Haaz Sleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haaz-sleiman/)

> [To follow good manners willingly is like paving the road and to tell somebody to follow them is like the road which is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-follow-good-manners-willingly-is-like-paving-the-road-and-to-tell/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Always look forward. Follow the path of light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikage/always-look-forward-follow-the-path-of-light/)

Mikage

Browse all 2,855 Follow quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometime you have to follow in order to lead.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kevin McCarty"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to-lead/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Follow"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to-lead/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/kevin-mccarty-374_follow_sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to_280282.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometime you have to follow in order to lead.” — Kevin McCarty",
                "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 McCarty",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometime you have to follow in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to-lead/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/sometime-you-have-to-follow-in-order-to-lead/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
