--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True leaders understand that leadership…" description: "\"True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/sheri-l-dew-3826_inspire_true-leaders-understand-that-leadership_2527596.jpg" --- # True leaders understand that leadership is not about them… ![“True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” quote by Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/sheri-l-dew-3826_inspire_true-leaders-understand-that-leadership_2527596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/sheri-l-dew-3826_inspire_true-leaders-understand-that-leadership_2527596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/sheri-l-dew-3826_inspire_true-leaders-understand-that-leadership_2527596.jpg) > “True leaders understand that leadership is not about them but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True leadership focuses on serving others, not self‑promotion, and lifts people up. **In simple terms:** Leadership is about serving others. Key Takeaway Prioritize others’ growth over personal glory. Themes leadership service humility empowerment community Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team management - mentorship - organizational culture - volunteer work - public service Key Concepts servant leadership ethical leadership team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance service with personal goals? - What actions demonstrate genuine servant leadership? A Different Perspective The statement may idealize leadership, overlooking practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-understand-638319/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-serve-1313020/) [Lifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting/) [Lifting others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting-others/) [True leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leader/) [True Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leaders-365414/) [Understand Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-leadership-1313019/) ## Related quotes > [My point is that true leaders...understand the possible consequences of their decisions, and are willing to bear that weight. The question is whether that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/my-point-is-that-true-leaders-understand-the-possible-consequences-of/) [Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/) > [We need to elect leaders who understand that leadership is about loving and serving people, not about self-advancement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/we-need-to-elect-leaders-who-understand-that-leadership-is-about/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/leadership-is-lifting-a-person-s-vision-to-high-sights-the-raising-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“Romans 12:1 issues this imperative to leaders: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” The Greek aorist tense of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/romans-12-1-issues-this-imperative-to-leaders-offer-your-bodies-as/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [“Self-leaders are still true leaders even if they have no known followers. True leaders inspire by the influence of their characters and general self-made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/self-leaders-are-still-true-leaders-even-if-they-have-no-known/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Players that aren't true leaders but try to be, always bash other players after a mistake. True leaders on the pitch already assume others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/players-that-aren-t-true-leaders-but-try-to-be-always-bash-other/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [True leaders respect and honor authority but are comfortable in its presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/true-leaders-respect-and-honor-authority-but-are-comfortable-in-its/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in doing so will not always be popular, may not always impress. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-habecker/the-true-leader-serves-serves-people-serves-their-best-interests-and/) [Eugene Habecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-habecker/) > [People aren't things to be molded; they are lives to be unfolded. And that's what true leaders do. They unfold the lives of others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/people-aren-t-things-to-be-molded-they-are-lives-to-be-unfolded-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [True leaders are born when you find something to die for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/true-leaders-are-born-when-you-find-something-to-die-for/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [True leaders must be willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/true-leaders-must-be-willing-to-suffer-for-the-sake-of-objectives/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [“You don't lead people by what you say to them; you lead them by what they see you do. True leaders are self-leaders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-lead-people-by-what-you-say-to-them-you-lead-them-by-what/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [True leaders have so much power they are willing to give it away. Power is not a fixed, quantifiable sum; instead it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-caroselli/true-leaders-have-so-much-power-they-are-willing-to-give-it-away/) [Marlene Caroselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-caroselli/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [True leaders are the first to admit that they don't know everything and that they need help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-byrd/true-leaders-are-the-first-to-admit-that-they-don-t-know-everything/) [Bill Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-byrd/) ## More by Sheri L. Dew > [The more we sense...our ultimate potential, the more determined we become to achieve it. It's the difference between your mother hounding you to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-more-we-sense-our-ultimate-potential-the-more-determined-we/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [I know how to set an irrigation tube, and I helped with the harvest. I learned the law of the harvest without even knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/i-know-how-to-set-an-irrigation-tube-and-i-helped-with-the-harvest-i/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [Its not living the gospel thats hard. Its life thats hard...How often do we make the mistake of talking to our youth about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/its-not-living-the-gospel-thats-hard-its-life-thats-hard-how-often-do/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [We don't really know what we believe in or care about until what we believe in or care about is threatened, challenged, or measured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/we-don-t-really-know-what-we-believe-in-or-care-about-until-what-we/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [Very simply, our physical and spiritual safety lies in never even getting close to the line that separates light from dark, good from evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/very-simply-our-physical-and-spiritual-safety-lies-in-never-even/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [I am innately very shy, and I have struggled with that challenge for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/i-am-innately-very-shy-and-i-have-struggled-with-that-challenge-for/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [“Let's face it: Today silly women mired in the sophistries and seductions of the world, and haughty women obsessed with themselves, abound. Regrettably, many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/let-s-face-it-today-silly-women-mired-in-the-sophistries-and/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [For the Holy Ghost blesses us with optimism and wisdom at times of challenge that we simply cannot muster on our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/for-the-holy-ghost-blesses-us-with-optimism-and-wisdom-at-times-of/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [Our Father knew exactly what He was doing when He created us. He made us enough alike to love each other, but enough different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/our-father-knew-exactly-what-he-was-doing-when-he-created-us-he-made/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [No amount of time in front of the mirror will make you as attractive as having the Holy Ghost with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/no-amount-of-time-in-front-of-the-mirror-will-make-you-as-attractive/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [I have 17 nieces and nephews, who are a pure delight. We have hiked and biked and fasted and prayed together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/i-have-17-nieces-and-nephews-who-are-a-pure-delight-we-have-hiked-and/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/motherhood-is-more-than-bearing-children-though-it-is-certainly-that/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [The blessings of the priesthood are available to every righteous man and woman. We may all receive the Holy Ghost, obtain personal revelation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/the-blessings-of-the-priesthood-are-available-to-every-righteous-man/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [It is simply not for us to judge each other. The Lord has reserved that right for Himself, because only He knows our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/it-is-simply-not-for-us-to-judge-each-other-the-lord-has-reserved/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [“After explainging that the Relief Society is one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the world, he said: "People wonder what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/after-explainging-that-the-relief-society-is-one-of-the-oldest-and/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) [Explore all 121 Sheri L. Dew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) ## More Inspire quotes > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [... 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My peers and colleagues inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-chase/i-ve-never-been-motivated-by-money-my-peers-and-colleagues-inspire-me/) [Robin Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-chase/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I like to motivate and inspire people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-like-to-motivate-and-inspire-people/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [There are really only two ways to teach. 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