--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What most people want in a leader is…" description: "\"“What most people want in a leader is something that's very difficult to find: we want someone who listens...The secret, Reagan's secret, is to listen,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_1549372.png" --- # What most people want in a leader is something that's very… ![“What most people want in a leader is something that's very difficult to find: we want someone who listens...The secret, Reagan's secret, is to listen, to value what you hear, and then to make a decision even if it contradicts the very people you are listening to. Reagan impressed his advisers, his…” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_1549372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_1549372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_1549372.png) > ““What most people want in a leader is something that's very difficult to find: we want someone who listens...The secret, Reagan's secret, is to listen, to value what you hear, and then to make a decision even if it contradicts the very people you are listening to. Reagan impressed his advisers, his adversaries, and his voters by actively listening. People want to be sure you hear what they said - they're less focused on whether or not you do what they said.”” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## 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 listening deeply, valuing input, then making bold decisions that may contradict the advice heard. **In simple terms:** Leaders must listen, value, then decide, even if contrary. Key Takeaway Listen, value, then decide boldly. Themes leadership decision‑making listening Mood thoughtful strategic Type speech leadership‑advice When to use this quote - board meetings - team management - crisis response Key Concepts cognitive dissonance strategic thinking authenticity Questions to Reflect On - When should a leader ignore popular opinion? - How do you balance listening with decisive action? A Different Perspective Listening alone isn’t enough; action must align with vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Listening People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-people/) [Listening Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-reagan-5787376/) [Listens Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listens-secret-5787377/) [Reagan Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reagan-secret-3835322/) [Want Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-leader/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, they got caught of course. The whole thing was so dunderheaded, how could they not? By November 1986, Reagan's "Secret Dealings with Iran"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/well-they-got-caught-of-course-the-whole-thing-was-so-dunderheaded/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [If you want to be a leader, go lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-want-to-be-a-leader-go-lead/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“What most people want in a leader is something that’s very difficult to find: we want someone who listens. Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-something-that-s-very-difficult/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I just want to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rozier/i-just-want-to-be-a-leader/) [Terry Rozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rozier/) > [If you want to be a leader of people, you must learn to watch events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/if-you-want-to-be-a-leader-of-people-you-must-learn-to-watch-events/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“You're a hero here.' 'I don't want to be a hero.' 'What do you want?' 'I want to be a leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/you-re-a-hero-here-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-hero-what-do-you-want-i-want/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [I don't want to be a leader that is one-dimensional or two-dimensional because he's not willing to be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-leader-that-is-one-dimensional-or-two/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [Everything that I do, I put my teammates first. To me, that's the mark of a true leader. That's what I want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/everything-that-i-do-i-put-my-teammates-first-to-me-that-s-the-mark/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [I would not want to be a leader of a country that had launched ICBMs against the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/i-would-not-want-to-be-a-leader-of-a-country-that-had-launched-icbms/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [I think if Donald Trump should become commander in chief, we all want that in a leader, somebody who is able to fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-think-if-donald-trump-should-become-commander-in-chief-we-all-want/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [“Most of the people want to be a leader of winners, but I want to be a leader of losers because losers are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gk-dutta/most-of-the-people-want-to-be-a-leader-of-winners-but-i-want-to-be-a/) [GK Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gk-dutta/) > [I welcome the responsibility of being a key player. I want to put on a show every week. I want to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-welcome-the-responsibility-of-being-a-key-player-i-want-to-put-on-a/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I don't want to be a follower; I want to be a leader and create new waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-balvin/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-follower-i-want-to-be-a-leader-and-create-new/) [J Balvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-balvin/) > [Being here in NXT, I want to be the leader, the top girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-royce/being-here-in-nxt-i-want-to-be-the-leader-the-top-girl/) [Peyton Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-royce/) > [If you want to be a leader, the first person you have to lead is yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-scioscia/if-you-want-to-be-a-leader-the-first-person-you-have-to-lead-is/) [Mike Scioscia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-scioscia/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Leader quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I always wanted someone looking up to me and trying to understand where I'm coming from as a leader. I'm ready for that. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-always-wanted-someone-looking-up-to-me-and-trying-to-understand/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Leadership is made for service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/leadership-is-made-for-service/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [“All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-to-often-on-the-long-road-up-young-leaders-become-servants-of/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Browse all 10,680 Leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What most people want in a leader is something that's very difficult to find: we want someone who listens...The secret, Reagan's secret, is to listen, to value what you hear, and then to make a decision even if it contradicts the very people you are listening to. Reagan impressed his advisers, his adversaries, and his voters by actively listening. 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