--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst leaders are the once that think…" description: "\"The worst leaders are the once that think they have to know as much or more than the people who work with them. The best leaders are the once who know ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/simon-sinek-349_best-leader_the-worst-leaders-are-the-once-that-thin_2717158.jpg" --- # The worst leaders are the once that think they have to… ![“The worst leaders are the once that think they have to know as much or more than the people who work with them. The best leaders are the once who know that their employees know hell of a lot more than what they know and willing to admit it whilst expressing the value of their employees.” quote by Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/simon-sinek-349_best-leader_the-worst-leaders-are-the-once-that-thin_2717158.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/simon-sinek-349_best-leader_the-worst-leaders-are-the-once-that-thin_2717158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/simon-sinek-349_best-leader_the-worst-leaders-are-the-once-that-thin_2717158.jpg) > “The worst leaders are the once that think they have to know as much or more than the people who work with them. The best leaders are the once who know that their employees know hell of a lot more than what they know and willing to admit it whilst expressing the value of their employees.” [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great leaders recognize they know less than their team and value their expertise. **In simple terms:** Leaders should defer to knowledgeable employees. Key Takeaway Listen and empower your staff. Themes leadership humility teamwork Mood respectful inspirational Type advice leadership When to use this quote - team meetings - project planning - performance reviews - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate humility without losing credibility? - What systems encourage employee expertise sharing? A Different Perspective Leaders may struggle to balance authority with humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-leader/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“In times of tumult and transition the best leaders know when it is time to stop, unlearn, and relearn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/in-times-of-tumult-and-transition-the-best-leaders-know-when-it-is/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [Leaders think and talk about the solutions. 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Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Most leaders are trying to figure out the right strategy. The best leaders are obsessed with empowering the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/most-leaders-are-trying-to-figure-out-the-right-strategy-the-best/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-lead-people-walk-beside-them-as-for-the-best-leaders-the-people-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best leaders are those who break that mission down into the organization's constituent parts, so that everybody understands their role and how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-best-leaders-are-those-who-break-that-mission-down-into-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More by Simon Sinek > [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/) > [“When you are with Marines gathering to eat, you will notice that the most junior are served first and the most senior are served…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-you-are-with-marines-gathering-to-eat-you-will-notice-that-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [A parent does not do everything for their kid. A parent that does everything for their kid produces a kid with no self-confidence. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-parent-does-not-do-everything-for-their-kid-a-parent-that-does/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Don't wait for perfection before you start. Start somewhere so you can have something tangible you can work to perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/don-t-wait-for-perfection-before-you-start-start-somewhere-so-you-can/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Followers want to be taken care of. Leaders want to take care of others. We can all be leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/followers-want-to-be-taken-care-of-leaders-want-to-take-care-of/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“Goethe, the great nineteenth-century thinker, reportedly summed up, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/goethe-the-great-nineteenth-century-thinker-reportedly-summed-up-you/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Pursue the thing inside us and others will help us. Pursue the things outside us and others will compete with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/pursue-the-thing-inside-us-and-others-will-help-us-pursue-the-things/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“When a WHY goes fuzzy, it becomes much more difficult to maintain the growth, loyalty and inspiration that helped drive the original success. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-a-why-goes-fuzzy-it-becomes-much-more-difficult-to-maintain-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“Without the protection of our leaders, everyone outside the inner circle is forced to work alone or in small tribes to protect and advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/without-the-protection-of-our-leaders-everyone-outside-the-inner/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Any great and inspiring leader or organization that ever existed set out to do something completely unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/any-great-and-inspiring-leader-or-organization-that-ever-existed-set/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I try to find, celebrate and teach leaders how to build platforms that will inspire others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-try-to-find-celebrate-and-teach-leaders-how-to-build-platforms-that/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Instead of showing up to let everyone know how great we are, show up to find out how great everyone else is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/instead-of-showing-up-to-let-everyone-know-how-great-we-are-show-up/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Knowledge is understanding based on what has been studied and learned. Wisdom is understanding based on what has been felt and experienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/knowledge-is-understanding-based-on-what-has-been-studied-and-learned/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [There's only one of me. With you using the why in the center of your work helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/there-s-only-one-of-me-with-you-using-the-why-in-the-center-of-your/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“they didn't examine the problem and accumulate data to figure out the best solution - they engineered the outcome they wanted from the beginning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/they-didn-t-examine-the-problem-and-accumulate-data-to-figure-out-the/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) [Explore all 654 Simon Sinek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## More Best leader quotes > [A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/a-good-general-not-only-sees-the-way-to-victory-he-also-knows-when/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/my-own-definition-of-leadership-is-this-the-capacity-and-the-will-to/) [Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/) > [The best leaders are those who break that mission down into the organization's constituent parts, so that everybody understands their role and how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-best-leaders-are-those-who-break-that-mission-down-into-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [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/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [To lead people, walk beside them ... As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-lead-people-walk-beside-them-as-for-the-best-leaders-the-people-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is like when a player has a slump, we do not trade them, we coach them. It is the same with our employees.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/it-is-like-when-a-player-has-a-slump-we-do-not-trade-them-we-coach/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Most leaders are trying to figure out the right strategy. The best leaders are obsessed with empowering the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/most-leaders-are-trying-to-figure-out-the-right-strategy-the-best/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [I do spend really focused time with my wife, my kids, grandkids, and so when I'm doing something or on a golf course, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-do-spend-really-focused-time-with-my-wife-my-kids-grandkids-and-so/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/management-is-efficiency-in-climbing-the-ladder-of-success/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The best leaders realize their success depends on their people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-best-leaders-realize-their-success-depends-on-their-people/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Democracy in many parts of the world is undergoing a very deep crisis. Politics is becoming a branch of the entertainment industry. People vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/democracy-in-many-parts-of-the-world-is-undergoing-a-very-deep-crisis/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Flowers flourish when they're watered, and shrivel up when they're not. People are no different. The best leaders are the ones who look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/flowers-flourish-when-they-re-watered-and-shrivel-up-when-they-re-not/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) [Browse all 83 Best leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The worst leaders are the once that think they have to know as much or more than the people who work with them. 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