--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first responsibility of a leader is…" description: "\"“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.”\" — Max DePree" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg" --- # The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality… ![“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.” quote by Max DePree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg) > ““The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.”” Max DePree ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders must first clarify the situation, then express gratitude at the end. **In simple terms:** Leaders define reality, then thank others. Key Takeaway Clarify first, thank later. Themes leadership responsibility gratitude Mood reflective encouraging Type leadership inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - crisis management - project completion Key Concepts communication perception Questions to Reflect On - What reality do you need to define? - How does gratitude affect team morale? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on gratitude may overlook accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [“weaker commanders would get a solid explanation about the burden of command and the deep meaning of responsibility: the leader is truly and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/weaker-commanders-would-get-a-solid-explanation-about-the-burden-of/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“The bigger a company, the more responsibility its leader has to think about the world, its citizens and their long term opportunities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-bigger-a-company-the-more-responsibility-its-leader-has-to-think/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [“As Max DePree, former CEO of furniture maker Herman Miller, put it, “The first job of a leader is to define reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/as-max-depree-former-ceo-of-furniture-maker-herman-miller-put-it-the/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [The first job of a leader is to define a vision for the organization...the capacity to translate vision into reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-first-job-of-a-leader-is-to-define-a-vision-for-the-organization/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [“Let us settle ourselves, and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion, and prejudice, and tradition, and delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/let-us-settle-ourselves-and-work-and-wedge-our-feet-downward-through/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The Absolute. Reality. You can't say what it is; you can only say what it isn't. It's inexpressible. It's nowhere and everywhere. All things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-absolute-reality-you-can-t-say-what-it-is-you-can-only-say-what/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [In response to those who say to stop dreaming and face reality, I say keep dreaming and make reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-response-to-those-who-say-to-stop-dreaming-and-face-reality-i-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Has anyone ever told you," I said, "that you coalesce reality?" "No. They only say that I'm good in the sack." "They are accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/has-anyone-ever-told-you-i-said-that-you-coalesce-reality-no-they/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Most of us think that we are 'better than average' in most things. We are also 'miscalibrated,' meaning that our sense of the probability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thaler/most-of-us-think-that-we-are-better-than-average-in-most-things-we/) [Richard Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thaler/) > [“Helping others see the future clearly and feel it deeply, is the most important responsibility of a leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-louwsma/helping-others-see-the-future-clearly-and-feel-it-deeply-is-the-most/) Jim Louwsma > [Our first responsibility as a leader is to create an attractive dream, to proclaim a destination, communicating it in detail to others who might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/our-first-responsibility-as-a-leader-is-to-create-an-attractive-dream/) [Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/) > [“Fulfillment is a right and not a privilege. Every single one of us is entitled to feel fulfilled by the work we do, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/fulfillment-is-a-right-and-not-a-privilege-every-single-one-of-us-is/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/somebody-has-to-take-responsibility-for-being-a-leader/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More by Max DePree > [Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do. The visible signs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/leadership-is-much-more-an-art-a-belief-a-condition-of-the-heart-than/) Max Depree > [“I don’t come with the wheelchair. The wheelchair comes with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/i-don-t-come-with-the-wheelchair-the-wheelchair-comes-with-me/) Max DePree > [“(Productive Workers + Innovative Products = Industry Leadership, no?)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/productive-workers-innovative-products-industry-leadership-no/) Max DePree Explore all 4 Max DePree quotes ## More Leader quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I always wanted someone looking up to me and trying to understand where I'm coming from as a leader. I'm ready for that. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-always-wanted-someone-looking-up-to-me-and-trying-to-understand/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Leadership is made for service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/leadership-is-made-for-service/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [“All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-to-often-on-the-long-road-up-young-leaders-become-servants-of/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Browse all 10,680 Leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max DePree" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Leader" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/max-depree-66976_leadership_the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is_1094509.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.” — Max DePree", "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": "Max DePree", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-depree/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The first responsibility of a leader...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-depree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is-2/#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 } } ] } ```