Bases Quote by Martin Zwilling
“Some leaders expect the team to read their minds on priorities, so they never provide the written and verbal guidance that we all need to feel we are contributing. Others can be heard shouting new priorities on an hourly basis. Both habits are very demotivating.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Leadership Challenges, Martin Zwilling, 2023
Leaders who assume team members know priorities without clear communication demotivate, while constant shouting creates chaos; both extremes hinder contribution.
In simple terms: Unclear or overly frequent priority signals demotivate teams.
Key Takeaway
Provide clear, written priorities and balanced communication.
Themes
leadership
communication
motivation
team dynamics
Mood
frustrated
hopeful
determined
Type
advice
observational
motivational
When to use this quote
- project kickoff meetings
- weekly planning
- remote team coordination
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
psychological safety
clarity
feedback loops
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance clear direction with adaptive flexibility?
- What communication rhythm best supports your team?
A Different Perspective
Over-reliance on written guidance can stifle flexibility; too much shouting can cause stress.
![“Our revolution is like Wikipedia, okay? Everyone is contributing content, [but] you don't know the names of the people contributing the content. This is exactly what happened. Revolution 2.0 in Egypt was exactly the same. Everyone is contributing small pieces, bits and pieces. We drew this whole…” quote by Wael Ghonim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b53/wael-ghonim-27286_bits_our-revolution-is-like-wikipedia-okay-ev_30476.jpg)
