--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are an executive, my friends…" description: "\"When you are an executive, my friends, that is not leadership.\" — Shirley Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg" --- # When you are an executive, my friends, that is not… ![“When you are an executive, my friends, that is not leadership.” quote by Shirley Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg) > “When you are an executive, my friends, that is not leadership.” Shirley Franklin ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Executive titles don’t equal leadership; true leadership is action and influence. **In simple terms:** Being an executive isn’t leadership; leadership is influence. Key Takeaway Lead through service, not position. Themes leadership authority service Mood critical inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - corporate meetings - team management - community projects - political roles Key Concepts influence responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What actions demonstrate real leadership? - How can leaders stay accountable? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Executive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [“Executives are doers; they execute. Knowledge is useless to executives until it has been translated into deeds. But before springing into action, the executive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-school-press/executives-are-doers-they-execute-knowledge-is-useless-to-executives/) Harvard Business School Press > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [My job is to make the whole executive team good enough to be successors, so that's what I try to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/my-job-is-to-make-the-whole-executive-team-good-enough-to-be/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [No man will ever be a big executive who feels that he must, either openly or under cover, follow up every order he gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-mahin/no-man-will-ever-be-a-big-executive-who-feels-that-he-must-either/) [John Lee Mahin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-mahin/) > [A talented executive would be somebody who knows how to surround themselves with a lot of people that will make him look good. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/a-talented-executive-would-be-somebody-who-knows-how-to-surround/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [What's crucial about being an executive producer is that you stay in the loop, information-wise. They have to share all their major decisions with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/what-s-crucial-about-being-an-executive-producer-is-that-you-stay-in/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [An executive is one who makes an immediate decision and is sometimes right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/an-executive-is-one-who-makes-an-immediate-decision-and-is-sometimes/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [I'm not an executive. I can do it, I have the mind for it, but there's a life that you have to lead, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-m-not-an-executive-i-can-do-it-i-have-the-mind-for-it-but-there-s-a/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [At the heart of any good business is a chief executive officer with one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/at-the-heart-of-any-good-business-is-a-chief-executive-officer-with/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Lost in much of the national debate about immigration reform is how Democrats ultimately stand to gain electorally with any legislation or executive action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-klein/lost-in-much-of-the-national-debate-about-immigration-reform-is-how/) [Aaron Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-klein/) > [A producer is someone who actually calls the shots. An executive producer is just a guy that eats more food at craft service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/a-producer-is-someone-who-actually-calls-the-shots-an-executive/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [Behind every piece of bad content is an executive who asked for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brenner/behind-every-piece-of-bad-content-is-an-executive-who-asked-for-it/) [Michael Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brenner/) > [Well, executive producer can mean anything in the world of Hollywood, sadly. It can be a bought title in many instances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/well-executive-producer-can-mean-anything-in-the-world-of-hollywood/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [Evidence of defendants' lavish lifestyles is often used to provide a motive for fraud. Jurors sometimes wonder why an executive making tens of millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/evidence-of-defendants-lavish-lifestyles-is-often-used-to-provide-a/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) ## More by Shirley Franklin > [I'm five-foot-something, sixty years old; I'm not much of a physical threat to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/i-m-five-foot-something-sixty-years-old-i-m-not-much-of-a-physical/) Shirley Franklin > [That's what I love about being mayor. Even if the problem is getting the cat out of the tree - from that to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/that-s-what-i-love-about-being-mayor-even-if-the-problem-is-getting/) Shirley Franklin > [We should try to achieve things for ourselves and not rely on former or past family glories with which we have no connection but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/we-should-try-to-achieve-things-for-ourselves-and-not-rely-on-former/) Shirley Franklin Explore all 4 Shirley Franklin quotes ## More Executive quotes > [Be patient and stay grounded. Everybody gets a chance, but you have to stand out. If an executive was out looking for new talent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-chuckee/be-patient-and-stay-grounded-everybody-gets-a-chance-but-you-have-to/) [Lil Chuckee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-chuckee/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Well, executive producer can mean anything in the world of Hollywood, sadly. It can be a bought title in many instances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/well-executive-producer-can-mean-anything-in-the-world-of-hollywood/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [Behind every piece of bad content is an executive who asked for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brenner/behind-every-piece-of-bad-content-is-an-executive-who-asked-for-it/) [Michael Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brenner/) > [“Executives are doers; they execute. Knowledge is useless to executives until it has been translated into deeds. But before springing into action, the executive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-school-press/executives-are-doers-they-execute-knowledge-is-useless-to-executives/) Harvard Business School Press > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [You've got guys in charge of shows who probably went to school for chemistry, and now they're executive producers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/you-ve-got-guys-in-charge-of-shows-who-probably-went-to-school-for/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Eventually, I'd like to have some sort of role like a chief executive in a football club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green/eventually-i-d-like-to-have-some-sort-of-role-like-a-chief-executive/) [Robert Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green/) > [Social media is your opportunity to reach a massive number of people with transparency, honesty, and integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/social-media-is-your-opportunity-to-reach-a-massive-number-of-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Not one criminal charge has ever been brought to any bank executive associated with the 2008 crisis. And in fact, it gets worse. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/not-one-criminal-charge-has-ever-been-brought-to-any-bank-executive/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [A producer is someone who actually calls the shots. An executive producer is just a guy that eats more food at craft service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/a-producer-is-someone-who-actually-calls-the-shots-an-executive/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [Executive Intelligence is about the specific skills one must have in order to succeed in senior leadership positions, i.e. the ability to evaluate underlying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/executive-intelligence-is-about-the-specific-skills-one-must-have-in/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) [Browse all 268 Executive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you are an executive, my friends, that is not leadership.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shirley Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-that-is-not-leadership/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Executive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-that-is-not-leadership/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/shirley-franklin-69940_executive_when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-tha_601953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you are an executive, my friends, that is not leadership.” — Shirley Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shirley Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you are an executive, my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-that-is-not-leadership/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-franklin/when-you-are-an-executive-my-friends-that-is-not-leadership/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```