--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leadership is not just about giving…" description: "\"Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's unleashing other people's energy.\" — Paul Polman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png" --- # Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's… ![“Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's unleashing other people's energy.” quote by Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png) > “Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's unleashing other people's energy.” [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership involves channeling others' enthusiasm rather than just supplying it. **In simple terms:** Good leaders boost others' energy. Key Takeaway Focus on empowering your team. Themes leadership empowerment energy Mood inspirational pragmatic Type leadership philosophical When to use this quote - corporate management - non‑profit - community projects - education programs Key Concepts motivation team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you inspire without overextending yourself? - What systems support sustained team energy? A Different Perspective Empowering others can be challenging when resources are limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy Unleashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-unleashing-5974906/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-energy-1257621/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-just-882882/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-energy-831120/) [Unleashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unleashing/) [Unleashing People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unleashing-people-4589411/) ## Related quotes > [For me, my role is about unleashing what people already have inside them that is maybe suppressed in most work environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/for-me-my-role-is-about-unleashing-what-people-already-have-inside/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [As you withdraw energy from the city, you are also giving energy back. People are noticing you. You're doing something, you're there, the species…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/as-you-withdraw-energy-from-the-city-you-are-also-giving-energy-back/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [Giving energy to the mind, is like giving your neighbour a gun to shoot you with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/giving-energy-to-the-mind-is-like-giving-your-neighbour-a-gun-to/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [Energy is gained by giving energy. When we give energy, we gain energy. This is different than having someone manipulate you and take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/energy-is-gained-by-giving-energy-when-we-give-energy-we-gain-energy/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Worse there cannot be; a better, I believe, there may be, by giving energy to the capital and skill of the country to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hume/worse-there-cannot-be-a-better-i-believe-there-may-be-by-giving/) [Joseph Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hume/) > [At first, I am giving energy to the creation, but later the creation seems to be giving energy to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/at-first-i-am-giving-energy-to-the-creation-but-later-the-creation/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [I would not run for president. I really like what I'm doing now. People say I'm giving them energy and hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/i-would-not-run-for-president-i-really-like-what-i-m-doing-now-people/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [“Trying is never a waste of energy, giving up is always energy wasted!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-fletcher/trying-is-never-a-waste-of-energy-giving-up-is-always-energy-wasted/) [Sharon Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-fletcher/) > [Stop giving energy to the things you don't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/stop-giving-energy-to-the-things-you-don-t-want/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [From then on, I realized this is what I want to do, what I'm supposed to do: Giving energy and receiving it back through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/from-then-on-i-realized-this-is-what-i-want-to-do-what-i-m-supposed/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [You have to be careful that in giving energy, you do not allow yourself to be excessively drained or used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-have-to-be-careful-that-in-giving-energy-you-do-not-allow/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think leadership is more than just being able to cross the t's and dot the i's. It's about character and integrity and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-think-leadership-is-more-than-just-being-able-to-cross-the-t-s-and/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [If there is anything I would like to be remembered for it is that I helped people understand that leadership is helping other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/if-there-is-anything-i-would-like-to-be-remembered-for-it-is-that-i/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Leadership is more than just managing economic reforms. Leadership means giving broad direction, take up challenges which other people cannot do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-piramal/leadership-is-more-than-just-managing-economic-reforms-leadership/) [Ajay Piramal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-piramal/) > [Leadership cannot just go along to get along. Leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/leadership-cannot-just-go-along-to-get-along-leadership-must-meet-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## More by Paul Polman > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [When women are provided with training and entrepreneurial opportunities in distribution networks, they become role models in their communities, showing it is possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/when-women-are-provided-with-training-and-entrepreneurial/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [Companies are the first to see the costs of climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/companies-are-the-first-to-see-the-costs-of-climate-change/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I don't subscribe to, 'Here are the top ten tips to successful leadership,' or, 'How to learn leadership in ten minutes.' A leader is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-don-t-subscribe-to-here-are-the-top-ten-tips-to-successful/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I grew up in a small town in the Netherlands which, for years, had been a center of textile production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-the-netherlands-which-for-years-had-been/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I do not work for the shareholder, to be honest. I work for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-do-not-work-for-the-shareholder-to-be-honest-i-work-for-the-customer/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [The moment you discover in life that it's not about yourself, that it is about investing in others, I think you're entering a steadier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/the-moment-you-discover-in-life-that-it-s-not-about-yourself-that-it/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [In certain cases, empowering women starts with making their lives easier and removing unnecessary burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/in-certain-cases-empowering-women-starts-with-making-their-lives/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [When the climate hurts, people and businesses also feel the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/when-the-climate-hurts-people-and-businesses-also-feel-the-pain/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [As CEO of Unilever, my personal mission is to galvanize our company to be an effective force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/as-ceo-of-unilever-my-personal-mission-is-to-galvanize-our-company-to/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [At the end of the day, people will follow you or people will be energised by you if they buy into your vision or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/at-the-end-of-the-day-people-will-follow-you-or-people-will-be/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I discovered a long time ago that if I focus on doing the right thing for the long term to improve the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-discovered-a-long-time-ago-that-if-i-focus-on-doing-the-right-thing/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [Practically, systemic thinking can be used to identify problems, analyze their boundaries, design strategies and policy interventions, forecast and measure their expected impacts, implement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/practically-systemic-thinking-can-be-used-to-identify-problems/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I work a lot with blind people in my spare time outside of Unilever, and I count my blessings every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-work-a-lot-with-blind-people-in-my-spare-time-outside-of-unilever/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [If we achieve our sustainability targets and no one else follows, we will have failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/if-we-achieve-our-sustainability-targets-and-no-one-else-follows-we/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) [Explore all 123 Paul Polman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) ## More Energy quotes > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/enthusiasm-is-the-yeast-that-makes-your-hopes-shine-to-the-stars/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [I've never even been into those supplements or any of that. I don't even drink energy shakes. I'm not into that kind of stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-ve-never-even-been-into-those-supplements-or-any-of-that-i-don-t/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > ['The Choirboys' is very much a product of its mid-1970s time, especially in its two-dimensional portrayals of cop groupies Ora Lee and Carolina Moon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/the-choirboys-is-very-much-a-product-of-its-mid-1970s-time-especially/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) [Browse all 12,866 Energy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's unleashing other people's energy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Polman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-energy-it-s-unleashing-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-energy-it-s-unleashing-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c2/paul-polman-3721_energy_leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-ener_773783.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leadership is not just about giving energy ... it's unleashing other people's energy.” — Paul Polman", "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": "Paul Polman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Leadership is not just about giving...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-energy-it-s-unleashing-other/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/leadership-is-not-just-about-giving-energy-it-s-unleashing-other/#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 } } ] } ```