--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give your employees a mission that…" description: "\"Give your employees a mission that matches their ambitions. When you challenge people, they surprise you.\" — Richard Branson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/richard-branson-256_ambition_give-your-employees-a-mission-that-match_1813370.jpg" --- # Give your employees a mission that matches their… ![“Give your employees a mission that matches their ambitions. When you challenge people, they surprise you.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/richard-branson-256_ambition_give-your-employees-a-mission-that-match_1813370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/richard-branson-256_ambition_give-your-employees-a-mission-that-match_1813370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/richard-branson-256_ambition_give-your-employees-a-mission-that-match_1813370.jpg) > “Give your employees a mission that matches their ambitions. When you challenge people, they surprise you.” [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates aligning employee missions with personal ambitions to unlock unexpected performance. **In simple terms:** Match work to personal goals for surprise results. Key Takeaway Align roles with personal ambitions. Themes leadership motivation employee engagement Mood motivational practical Type business inspirational When to use this quote - team building - career coaching - performance reviews Key Concepts goal alignment personal development organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders discover employees' true ambitions? - What obstacles hinder mission alignment? A Different Perspective May not account for structural constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitions Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitions-challenge-2134851/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Challenge People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge-people/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Employees Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employees-mission-2134850/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Matches Ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matches-ambitions-2134852/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [Your employees are your company’s real competitive advantage. They’re the ones making the magic happen-so long as their needs are being met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/your-employees-are-your-company-s-real-competitive-advantage-they-re/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you run a business, put on top your employees, then your consumers, and then your shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/if-you-run-a-business-put-on-top-your-employees-then-your-consumers/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The first thing to look for when searching for a great employee is somebody with a personality that fits with your company culture. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-first-thing-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-great-employee-is/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you look for the best in your employees, they'll flourish. If you criticize or look for the worst, they'll shrivel up. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/if-you-look-for-the-best-in-your-employees-they-ll-flourish-if-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [It isn't effective or productive to force your employees to do anything. Choice empowers people and makes for a more content workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/it-isn-t-effective-or-productive-to-force-your-employees-to-do/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The way you treat your employees is the way they will treat your customers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-way-you-treat-your-employees-is-the-way-they-will-treat-your/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“When leaders offer a right-size challenge, people contribute quickly, build confidence, and are readied for bigger challenges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/when-leaders-offer-a-right-size-challenge-people-contribute-quickly/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [I always think it's a little bit of a challenge when people sort of associate female artists as their own genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-potter/i-always-think-it-s-a-little-bit-of-a-challenge-when-people-sort-of/) [Grace Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-potter/) > [Most people rust out due to lack of challenge. Few people rust out due to overuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-people-rust-out-due-to-lack-of-challenge-few-people-rust-out-due/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We underestimate our people. Given a challenge, most of our people will do it, especially the youngsters who take to technology like duck to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-bhattacharya/we-underestimate-our-people-given-a-challenge-most-of-our-people-will/) [Arundhati Bhattacharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-bhattacharya/) > [I'm not giving up on my work. I'm still trying to challenge people's aesthetics and myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/i-m-not-giving-up-on-my-work-i-m-still-trying-to-challenge-people-s/) [Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/) > [It's absolutely wrong that I don't want guys to challenge me. And the people who say that aren't in the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/it-s-absolutely-wrong-that-i-don-t-want-guys-to-challenge-me-and-the/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [You have to challenge people, often people who know a lot more about a subject than you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-jassy/you-have-to-challenge-people-often-people-who-know-a-lot-more-about-a/) [Andy Jassy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-jassy/) > [I've always been interesting in characters that challenge people and who are not always that easy to like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-mcmahon/i-ve-always-been-interesting-in-characters-that-challenge-people-and/) [Julian McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-mcmahon/) > [Most women I know who have been successful in business, it's because they've been willing to take on the risky challenge that other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-e-peterson/most-women-i-know-who-have-been-successful-in-business-it-s-because/) [Sandra E. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-e-peterson/) ## More by Richard Branson > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Fantasizing about the future is one of my favorite pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/fantasizing-about-the-future-is-one-of-my-favorite-pastimes/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Tough times are inevitable in life and in business. But how you compose yourself during those times defines your spirit and will define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/tough-times-are-inevitable-in-life-and-in-business-but-how-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [All successful people - not just entrepreneurs - have got things wrong over and over again before finding the right solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/all-successful-people-not-just-entrepreneurs-have-got-things-wrong/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Money is a poor indicator of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/money-is-a-poor-indicator-of-success/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Business leaders take things far too seriously, and forget that most of the time people spend in their lives is at work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/business-leaders-take-things-far-too-seriously-and-forget-that-most/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-love-the-freedom-of-movement-that-my-phone-gives-me-that-has/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Everything in your business can be outsourced... if you're not emotionally attached to doing it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/everything-in-your-business-can-be-outsourced-if-you-re-not/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [People have to decide on priorities if they want to get anywhere. The best lessons I learned was to just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/people-have-to-decide-on-priorities-if-they-want-to-get-anywhere-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [There isn't a flight goes by when I don't stare out of the window and thank my stars for what I'm seeing and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/there-isn-t-a-flight-goes-by-when-i-don-t-stare-out-of-the-window-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Explore all 805 Richard Branson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Give your employees a mission that matches their ambitions. 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