--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She taught me that it's ok to let down…" description: "\"She taught me that it's ok to let down your guard and allow your players to get to know you. They don't care how much you know until they know how much..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/pat-summitt-2987_care_she-taught-me-that-it-s-ok-to-let-down-y_67948.png" --- # She taught me that it's ok to let down your guard and… ![“She taught me that it's ok to let down your guard and allow your players to get to know you. They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” quote by Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/pat-summitt-2987_care_she-taught-me-that-it-s-ok-to-let-down-y_67948.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/pat-summitt-2987_care_she-taught-me-that-it-s-ok-to-let-down-y_67948.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/pat-summitt-2987_care_she-taught-me-that-it-s-ok-to-let-down-y_67948.png) > “She taught me that it's ok to let down your guard and allow your players to get to know you. They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) ## 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 vulnerability; people respond to genuine care more than expertise. **In simple terms:** Care beats knowledge in building trust. Key Takeaway Show empathy to earn respect. Themes leadership trust empathy team dynamics communication Mood inspirational encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - coaching a sports team - managing a project - mentoring a junior colleague - leading a volunteer group Key Concepts vulnerability relationship building motivation Practical Applications - team building workshops - leadership training modules Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate care without compromising authority? - What signals show you are genuinely invested in others? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [Going through SEAL training taught me that it's OK to fall down three times, as long as you get up four. 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You've got everybody praising you for what you do where you come from, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/you-get-to-a-certain-point-where-you-feel-comfortable-you-ve-got/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I'll argue with the owners all day long when they do not allow the players to get the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/i-ll-argue-with-the-owners-all-day-long-when-they-do-not-allow-the/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [On how to make the game more exciting - Eliminate the referees, raise the basket four feet, double the size of the basketball, limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/on-how-to-make-the-game-more-exciting-eliminate-the-referees-raise/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [There are analytics that can allow players to play better. Will everyone use it? No. They don't think it's necessary. They rely on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/there-are-analytics-that-can-allow-players-to-play-better-will/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [You must allow your players to become the athletes they can be. Don't make them into anything just to become the kind of winners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/you-must-allow-your-players-to-become-the-athletes-they-can-be-don-t/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman - stay alert and focused on your surroundings. Travel with friends. Know where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-a-man-or-a-woman-stay-alert-and-focused/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Let us always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/let-us-always-guard-our-tongue-not-that-it-should-always-be-silent/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [You won't build relationships unless you let your guard down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ferrazzi/you-won-t-build-relationships-unless-you-let-your-guard-down/) [Keith Ferrazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ferrazzi/) > [Be a person who knows to let it guard down your own pride,down to earth and be humble to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy/be-a-person-who-knows-to-let-it-guard-down-your-own-pride-down-to/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy/) > [It's okay to let your guard down and let someone get close to actually care about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-okay-to-let-your-guard-down-and-let-someone-get-close-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I should have known better. I shouldn’t have let my guard down. That’s been a big rule of mine for the last year or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-flowers/i-should-have-known-better-i-shouldn-t-have-let-my-guard-down-that-s/) [Loni Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-flowers/) > [Breathe easy, relax, and let down your guard, because your future is safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/breathe-easy-relax-and-let-down-your-guard-because-your-future-is-safe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Pat Summitt > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [I have a love-hate relationship with losing. I hate how it makes me feel, which is basically sick. But I love what it brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-losing-i-hate-how-it-makes-me/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [The willingness to experiment with change may be the most essential ingredient to success at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/the-willingness-to-experiment-with-change-may-be-the-most-essential/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [“We installed something Dean called “the persistence drill,” which tested their stamina: they had to make consecutive full-court layups for two straight minutes—and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/we-installed-something-dean-called-the-persistence-drill-which-tested/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [I remember every player-every single one-who wore the Tennessee orange, a shade that our rivals hate, a bold, aggravating color that you can usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-remember-every-player-every-single-one-who-wore-the-tennessee/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Coaches who start listening to fans often wind up sitting next to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/coaches-who-start-listening-to-fans-often-wind-up-sitting-next-to-them/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Change equals self improvement. Push yourself to places you haven't been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/change-equals-self-improvement-push-yourself-to-places-you-haven-t/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [You spend more of the game preparing to win in the final seconds. And that is what separates winners from losers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/you-spend-more-of-the-game-preparing-to-win-in-the-final-seconds-and/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [In order to grow, you must accept new responsibilities, no matter how uncertain you may feel or how unprepared you are to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/in-order-to-grow-you-must-accept-new-responsibilities-no-matter-how/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Rebounding wins championships, you need to emphasize it and work with kids on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/rebounding-wins-championships-you-need-to-emphasize-it-and-work-with/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/offense-sells-tickets-defense-wins-games-rebounding-wins-championships/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Teamwork is what makes common people capable of uncommon results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/teamwork-is-what-makes-common-people-capable-of-uncommon-results/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [If you don't want responsibility, don't sit in the big chair. To be successful, you must accept full responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/if-you-don-t-want-responsibility-don-t-sit-in-the-big-chair-to-be/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Make Winning an Attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/make-winning-an-attitude/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [There is not that many players that really can take over games, signed Candace Parker, I really felt like at that time that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/there-is-not-that-many-players-that-really-can-take-over-games-signed/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) [Explore all 143 Pat Summitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) ## More Care quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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