--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I work with CEOs and their executive…" description: "\"I work with CEOs and their executive teams... and very few of these people are really indifferent about their employees or their customers.\" — Patrick ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/patrick-lencioni-1969_about_i-work-with-ceos-and-their-executive-tea_1948393.png" --- # I work with CEOs and their executive teams... and very few… ![“I work with CEOs and their executive teams... and very few of these people are really indifferent about their employees or their customers.” quote by Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/patrick-lencioni-1969_about_i-work-with-ceos-and-their-executive-tea_1948393.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/patrick-lencioni-1969_about_i-work-with-ceos-and-their-executive-tea_1948393.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1dd/patrick-lencioni-1969_about_i-work-with-ceos-and-their-executive-tea_1948393.png) > “I work with CEOs and their executive teams... and very few of these people are really indifferent about their employees or their customers.” [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## 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 care about employees and customers; apathy harms performance and trust. **In simple terms:** Leaders should care about staff and clients. Key Takeaway Show genuine concern for people. Themes leadership team dynamics customer focus Mood reflective serious Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - executive meetings - performance reviews - customer service training Key Concepts empathy organizational health Questions to Reflect On - How does employee care affect customer satisfaction? - What actions demonstrate authentic concern? A Different Perspective Neglecting stakeholder needs can erode morale and profits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceos/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Your number one customers are your people. Look after employees first and then customers last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hutchinson/your-number-one-customers-are-your-people-look-after-employees-first/) Ian Hutchinson > [We live in a world where there are a hell of a lot of new inputs that need to be factored in to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rose/we-live-in-a-world-where-there-are-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-new-inputs-that/) [Stuart Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rose/) > [It is important that we win back the trust of employees first, then customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/it-is-important-that-we-win-back-the-trust-of-employees-first-then/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [We do not talk enough about spirit in business, yet it is what moves employees, customers, and shareholders alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/we-do-not-talk-enough-about-spirit-in-business-yet-it-is-what-moves/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [You really have to understand this isn't a business where you sit in the back room and do calculations - you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-deluca/you-really-have-to-understand-this-isn-t-a-business-where-you-sit-in/) [Fred DeLuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-deluca/) > [“Focus on people more than money. Without employees and customers, you're going nowhere. Make sure you never stop thinking about the customer's perspective. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-green/focus-on-people-more-than-money-without-employees-and-customers-you/) [David Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-green/) > [Ask yourself: would you be comfortable printing everything your employees, customers & partners have to say about your culture?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/ask-yourself-would-you-be-comfortable-printing-everything-your/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [“Realize that employees and the customers both have to be engaged, at the same time, to move your business forward for sustainable success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-thompson/realize-that-employees-and-the-customers-both-have-to-be-engaged-at/) [Robert G. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-thompson/) > [I don't understand why people whose entire lives or their corporate success depends on communication, and yet they are led on occasion by CEOs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/i-don-t-understand-why-people-whose-entire-lives-or-their-corporate/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [“We find that firms with award-winning CEOs subsequently underperform, in terms both of stock and of operating performance. At the same time, CEO compensation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/we-find-that-firms-with-award-winning-ceos-subsequently-underperform/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [You don't characterize CEOs as dealmakers or in any one particular area. An important characteristic of a CEO is leader. That's probably the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ramsey/you-don-t-characterize-ceos-as-dealmakers-or-in-any-one-particular/) [Michael Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ramsey/) > [CEOs are paid for doing a terrible job. If the system wasn't so messed up, guys like me wouldn't make this kind of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-icahn/ceos-are-paid-for-doing-a-terrible-job-if-the-system-wasn-t-so-messed/) [Carl Icahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-icahn/) > [There's something to be said for CEOs' entering politics: In theory, they have management expertise and financial savvy. Then again, it didn't work so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-ceos-entering-politics-in-theory/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [The deck is still stacked in favor of those already at the top. And there's something wrong with that. There's something wrong when CEOs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-deck-is-still-stacked-in-favor-of-those-already-at-the-top-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“It seems some CEOs who pay extremely large acquisition premiums … come to believe their own press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/it-seems-some-ceos-who-pay-extremely-large-acquisition-premiums-come/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) ## More by Patrick Lencioni > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“There is something so powerful about a person who in one moment can be confident enough to confront a client about a sensitive personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/there-is-something-so-powerful-about-a-person-who-in-one-moment-can/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Are your people uncomfortable during meetings and tired at the end? If not, they're probably not mixing it up enough and getting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/are-your-people-uncomfortable-during-meetings-and-tired-at-the-end-if/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [An organization has integrity—is healthy—when it is whole, consistent, and complete, that is, when its management, operations, strategy, and culture fit together and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/an-organization-has-integrity-is-healthy-when-it-is-whole-consistent/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I've become absolutely convinced that the seminal difference between successful companies and mediocre or unsuccessful ones has little, if anything, to do with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-ve-become-absolutely-convinced-that-the-seminal-difference-between/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Home is most important in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/home-is-most-important-in-the-long-run/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [If you don't know what your family stands for and what your life situation is, you're in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/if-you-don-t-know-what-your-family-stands-for-and-what-your-life/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“First, we go figure out how to recognize a real team player, the kind of person who can easily build trust, engage in healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/first-we-go-figure-out-how-to-recognize-a-real-team-player-the-kind/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [People will walk through fire for a leader that's true and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/people-will-walk-through-fire-for-a-leader-that-s-true-and-human/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [The majority of meetings should be discussions that lead to decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-majority-of-meetings-should-be-discussions-that-lead-to-decisions/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [At its core, all authentic growth depends on more customers wanting more of what your company offers. Any other drivers - pricing gimmicks, heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/at-its-core-all-authentic-growth-depends-on-more-customers-wanting/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESSES AND LIMITATIONS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/admit-your-weaknesses-and-limitations/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I have yet to meet members of a leadership team who I thought lacked the intelligence or the domain expertise required to be successful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-have-yet-to-meet-members-of-a-leadership-team-who-i-thought-lacked/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) [Explore all 194 Patrick Lencioni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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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/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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