--- 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. Why”\" — Seth Godin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_624192.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. Why” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_624192.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_624192.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/seth-godin-152_leader_what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-som_624192.png) > ““What most people want in a leader is something that’s very difficult to find: we want someone who listens. Why”” [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 leaders are rare; true leadership requires deep listening. **In simple terms:** Leaders must listen to be effective. Key Takeaway Cultivate listening skills. Themes leadership listening trust Mood thoughtful encouraging Type leadership inspirational When to use this quote - management - coaching - team building Key Concepts empathy psychological safety Questions to Reflect On - Why do we value listening? - How can you demonstrate listening? A Different Perspective Listening without action is empty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-want-773901/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-difficult-409557/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-want/) [Want Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-leader/) [Want Listens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-listens-5044951/) ## Related quotes > [“Being a leader is often difficult. It requires that you continually put the needs of others before your own desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-auxier/being-a-leader-is-often-difficult-it-requires-that-you-continually/) [Jonathan Auxier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-auxier/) > [A leader will find it difficult to articulate a coherent vision unless it expresses his core values, his basic identity...one must first embark on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/a-leader-will-find-it-difficult-to-articulate-a-coherent-vision/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [My parents always told me never be a follower, always be a leader. It's very difficult to do, to step out and be different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/my-parents-always-told-me-never-be-a-follower-always-be-a-leader-it-s/) [Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/) > [I have a tendency to pick up my own challenges. The more difficult something it is, the more I want to try it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-have-a-tendency-to-pick-up-my-own-challenges-the-more-difficult/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I am awfully greedy; I want everything from life. I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/i-am-awfully-greedy-i-want-everything-from-life-i-want-to-be-a-woman/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [It's difficult when you want it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-paradis/it-s-difficult-when-you-want-it-all/) [Vanessa Paradis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-paradis/) > [“It has never been very easy for me to live, though I am always very happy—maybe because I want so much to be happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/it-has-never-been-very-easy-for-me-to-live-though-i-am-always-very/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/what-most-people-want-in-a-leader-is-something-that-s-very-difficult-2/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“Great design = getting people to do what you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/great-design-getting-people-to-do-what-you-want/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [What people want is the extra, the emotional bonus they get when they buy something they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/what-people-want-is-the-extra-the-emotional-bonus-they-get-when-they/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Giving people what they want isn't always what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/giving-people-what-they-want-isn-t-always-what-they-want/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## 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. 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