--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Successful people become great leaders…" description: "\"Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others.\" — Marshall Goldsmith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/marshall-goldsmith-6918_focus_successful-people-become-great-leaders-w_987702.png" --- # Successful people become great leaders when they learn to… ![“Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others.” quote by Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/marshall-goldsmith-6918_focus_successful-people-become-great-leaders-w_987702.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/marshall-goldsmith-6918_focus_successful-people-become-great-leaders-w_987702.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f12/marshall-goldsmith-6918_focus_successful-people-become-great-leaders-w_987702.png) > “Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others.” [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) ## 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 moving focus from self‑interest to serving others. **In simple terms:** Leaders succeed by putting others first. Key Takeaway Prioritize others' needs to lead well. Themes leadership service humility Mood inspirational motivational Type advice leadership insight When to use this quote - team meetings - mentoring - conflict resolution - strategic planning Key Concepts emotional intelligence team dynamics servant leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift attention to your team? - What habits reinforce self‑centered thinking? A Different Perspective Self‑focus can be hard to overcome without feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Great leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leaders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-learn-365413/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shift Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shift-focus-1154064/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/) ## Related quotes > [“Good leaders learn by doing, great leaders learn by listening   –  @cfdonahue”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-leaders-learn-by-doing-great-leaders-learn-by-listening-cfdonahue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good leaders set vision, missions, and goals. 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Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“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/) ## More by Marshall Goldsmith > [Our inner beliefs trigger failure before it happens. They sabotage lasting change by canceling its possibility. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. 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