--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're going to give people authority…" description: "\"If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the way.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png" --- # If you're going to give people authority and hold them… ![“If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the way.” quote by Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png) > “If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the way.” [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) ## 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 delegating authority while removing obstacles, allowing individuals to own outcomes and be accountable for them. **In simple terms:** Delegate authority, remove impediments. Key Takeaway Empower teams by stepping aside. Themes Leadership Accountability Empowerment Management Responsibility Mood Motivated Confident Focused Type Advice Leadership insight When to use this quote - Managing a project team - Running a department - Overseeing a startup - Leading a nonprofit - Coordinating a cross‑functional group Key Concepts Delegation Autonomy Performance Decision‑making Practical Applications - Designing empowerment frameworks - Creating accountability structures Questions to Reflect On - How does removing barriers affect team morale? - What balance is needed between oversight and autonomy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-hold-908277/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/) [Hold Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-responsible-908276/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-authority-367268/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately/) [Ultimately Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately-accountable-908278/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I no longer hold you responsible for how I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/i-no-longer-hold-you-responsible-for-how-i-feel/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [You would not want to be responsible for someone else's happiness, so please do not hold someone else responsible for yours!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-o-neill/you-would-not-want-to-be-responsible-for-someone-else-s-happiness-so/) [Jennifer O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-o-neill/) > [Things will only improve when the people - all of us - say to authorities, 'I will hold you responsible.' We should all be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/things-will-only-improve-when-the-people-all-of-us-say-to-authorities/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/hold-yourself-responsible-for-a-higher-standard-than-anybody-expects/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You must assume 100% responsibility for your financial life. If you're going to improve your situation, you have to put the full burden of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/you-must-assume-100-responsibility-for-your-financial-life-if-you-re/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [“At the end, life will hold us responsible for all the blessings that we refused to acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/at-the-end-life-will-hold-us-responsible-for-all-the-blessings-that/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [We rely too much on the people we share our lives with. We hold them responsible for things they are not even aware of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-zambra/we-rely-too-much-on-the-people-we-share-our-lives-with-we-hold-them/) [Alejandro Zambra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-zambra/) > [Take ownership of every decision you make because you will be hold responsible for the film, whether good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/take-ownership-of-every-decision-you-make-because-you-will-be-hold/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Sir Hugh Greene is the man I hold most responsible for the state of our country today. For 11 years hardly a week went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-whitehouse/sir-hugh-greene-is-the-man-i-hold-most-responsible-for-the-state-of/) [Mary Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-whitehouse/) > [“‎Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/hold-yourself-responsible-for-a-higher-standard-than-anybody-else-3/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markesa-yeager/hold-yourself-responsible-for-a-higher-standard-than-anybody-else-2/) [Markesa Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markesa-yeager/) > [“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-meadows/hold-yourself-responsible-for-a-higher-standard-than-anybody-else/) [Martin Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-meadows/) > [If you do not magnify your calling, God will hold you responsible for those who you might have saved-had you done your duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/if-you-do-not-magnify-your-calling-god-will-hold-you-responsible-for/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved to me that when people in authority take a stand, good can come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-longley-he-proved-to-me-that/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## More by Randy Lerner > [I want a life of good sport, good people and the competition that goes with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/i-want-a-life-of-good-sport-good-people-and-the-competition-that-goes/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [We want to build the club on our attendances. We don't want to pay all our TV money straight out in transfer fees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/we-want-to-build-the-club-on-our-attendances-we-don-t-want-to-pay-all/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [I have come to know well that fates are fickle in the business of English football. And I feel that I have pushed mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/i-have-come-to-know-well-that-fates-are-fickle-in-the-business-of/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [We have to invest in developing Villa Park, allowing us to generate our own revenue streams. At the same time, of course, there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/we-have-to-invest-in-developing-villa-park-allowing-us-to-generate/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [While being in the right seat at the right game might create short-term reassurance, I can't get over the idea that really what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/while-being-in-the-right-seat-at-the-right-game-might-create-short/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [In U.S. sports, you tend to be pretty strictly limited by the size of your team's market. When we heard that Villa was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/in-u-s-sports-you-tend-to-be-pretty-strictly-limited-by-the-size-of/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [Winning our fans' approval will come from all of us doing the right things for the right reasons, me included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/winning-our-fans-approval-will-come-from-all-of-us-doing-the-right/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [Winning supporters over can only really be achieved by what you do, not what you say. It's no use just smiling and shaking hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/winning-supporters-over-can-only-really-be-achieved-by-what-you-do/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) [Explore all 9 Randy Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) ## More Accountable quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/) [Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/) > [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [To see my brother, see my friends, I think it builds character for me, just being accountable for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/to-see-my-brother-see-my-friends-i-think-it-builds-character-for-me/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) [Browse all 351 Accountable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randy Lerner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/randy-lerner-43554_accountable_if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority_68785.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their…” — Randy Lerner", "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": "Randy Lerner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're going to give people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/#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 } } ] } ```