--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best managers figure out how to get…" description: "\"The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the appropriate context, rather than by trying to control their people.\" — Reed Hastings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/reed-hastings-10304_appropriate_the-best-managers-figure-out-how-to-get_2261259.png" --- # The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by… ![“The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the appropriate context, rather than by trying to control their people.” quote by Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/reed-hastings-10304_appropriate_the-best-managers-figure-out-how-to-get_2261259.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/reed-hastings-10304_appropriate_the-best-managers-figure-out-how-to-get_2261259.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/reed-hastings-10304_appropriate_the-best-managers-figure-out-how-to-get_2261259.png) > “The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the appropriate context, rather than by trying to control their people.” [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective managers shape the environment to enable success rather than micromanaging individuals. **In simple terms:** Good managers set the right context, not control. Key Takeaway Create enabling environments. Themes leadership management culture Mood strategic thoughtful Type motivational practical When to use this quote - team projects - product development - remote work Key Concepts systems thinking empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you redesign your team's context for better outcomes? - What limits exist when relying solely on context? A Different Perspective Control can stifle creativity and autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-man/) [Best manager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-manager/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) ## Related quotes > [Sir Alex, one of the best managers of all time. After 26 years of success in the game, we all owe him a tribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/sir-alex-one-of-the-best-managers-of-all-time-after-26-years-of/) [Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/) > [The question is, what are appropriate words and inappropriate words for network television, and what's the context? Was this appropriate in this context? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-ohlmeyer/the-question-is-what-are-appropriate-words-and-inappropriate-words/) Don Ohlmeyer > [We're all flawed, but basically, effective managers are people whose flaws are not fatal under the circumstances. Maybe the best managers are simply ordinary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/we-re-all-flawed-but-basically-effective-managers-are-people-whose/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [While most managers spend their time attempting to predict the future accurately - and while that's valuable - the best managers are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-erhard/while-most-managers-spend-their-time-attempting-to-predict-the-future/) [Werner Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-erhard/) > [I've played under some of the biggest and best managers and achieved almost everything in football. Of course it hurts when people question it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-ve-played-under-some-of-the-biggest-and-best-managers-and-achieved/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [I tried making Messi the best player in the World, but he ended up making me one of the best managers in the World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/i-tried-making-messi-the-best-player-in-the-world-but-he-ended-up/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [The one thing I've known and I've learned from the best managers, it's to stay positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/the-one-thing-i-ve-known-and-i-ve-learned-from-the-best-managers-it-s/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [Jose Mourinho is one of the best managers with whom I have worked. I had a chance not only to have him as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/jose-mourinho-is-one-of-the-best-managers-with-whom-i-have-worked-i/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/guardiola-is-one-of-the-best-managers-in-the-world/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the best managers in football history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/sir-alex-ferguson-is-one-of-the-best-managers-in-football-history/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [Remember the Golden Rule? "Treat people as you would like to be treated." The best managers break the Golden Rule every day. 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Sometimes they're not all there, but sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cooper/that-whole-thing-about-hey-ex-catchers-are-the-best-managers-listen/) [Don Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cooper/) > [It's always a nice thought to be coming against the best managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughton/it-s-always-a-nice-thought-to-be-coming-against-the-best-managers/) [Chris Hughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughton/) > [Obviously the chance to work with Rafa, there's not really a better situation I could be in. He's great. He takes his time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/obviously-the-chance-to-work-with-rafa-there-s-not-really-a-better/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) ## More by Reed Hastings > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [School districts in the US don't adopt technology very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/school-districts-in-the-us-don-t-adopt-technology-very-quickly/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Something will eventually replace the Internet. But it's hard to know what and when it will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/something-will-eventually-replace-the-internet-but-it-s-hard-to-know/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [The Costa Rican government is prioritizing laying fiber optic over paving roads. Costa Rica is trying to become one of the Internet societies. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/the-costa-rican-government-is-prioritizing-laying-fiber-optic-over/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Comparing Apple to Netflix is like comparing apples to oranges, especially if the oranges made so many mistakes that people stopped eating oranges and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/comparing-apple-to-netflix-is-like-comparing-apples-to-oranges/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I don't know of any Internet service that opens on a regional basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/i-don-t-know-of-any-internet-service-that-opens-on-a-regional-basis/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [So much of the downstream revenue is linked to that initial excitement, to how much revenue is produced in the domestic box office. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/so-much-of-the-downstream-revenue-is-linked-to-that-initial/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [We are seeing the beginning of things. Web 2.0 is broadband. Web 3.0 is 10 gigabits a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/we-are-seeing-the-beginning-of-things-web-2-0-is-broadband-web-3-0-is/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Great leaders, like Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos, also focused on the long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/great-leaders-like-steve-jobs-or-jeff-bezos-also-focused-on-the-long/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Do not tolerate brilliant jerks. The cost to teamwork is too high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/do-not-tolerate-brilliant-jerks-the-cost-to-teamwork-is-too-high/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Stone Age. Bronze Age. Iron Age. 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Little did they know that I thought Facebook was really stupid when I first heard about it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/i-m-on-the-facebook-board-now-little-did-they-know-that-i-thought/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) [Explore all 66 Reed Hastings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) ## More Appropriate quotes > [“Appropriate is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-w-kohlhagen/appropriate-is-overrated/) Steven W. 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