---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When someone asks for your time, and you…"
description: "\"When someone asks for your time, and you put your phone away to talk to them... that's leadership.\" — Simon Sinek"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png"
---

#  When someone asks for your time, and you put your phone…

![“When someone asks for your time, and you put your phone away to talk to them... that's leadership.” quote by Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png)

> “When someone asks for your time, and you put your phone away to talk to them... that's leadership.”

[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.

True leadership is shown by giving undivided attention, valuing others over devices.

**In simple terms:** Leadership means listening fully.

Key Takeaway

Put away distractions when others speak.

Themes

leadership communication respect presence

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- coaching sessions
- customer service
- family conversations

Key Concepts

active listening mindfulness human connection

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you practice this daily?
- What barriers stop you?

A Different Perspective

Some may view this as overly idealistic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I spend a lot of time on my phone, so I have two Mophie backups myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-on-my-phone-so-i-have-two-mophie-backups-myself/)

[Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/)

> [If I could throw my phone away, I would probably do it. It's always on silent, and I don't like when it rings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimi-raikkonen/if-i-could-throw-my-phone-away-i-would-probably-do-it-it-s-always-on/)

[Kimi Raikkonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimi-raikkonen/)

> [I have a rule where once a week I have a date night with my wife, and that's the time when I put my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scooter-braun/i-have-a-rule-where-once-a-week-i-have-a-date-night-with-my-wife-and/)

[Scooter Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scooter-braun/)

> [Even though my grandparents live overseas and are so far away and we talk as much as we can, we don't see each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-dobrev/even-though-my-grandparents-live-overseas-and-are-so-far-away-and-we/)

[Nina Dobrev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-dobrev/)

> [You know, men would much rather run away than talk about stuff, and my default setting has always been, 'If you have an argument,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/you-know-men-would-much-rather-run-away-than-talk-about-stuff-and-my/)

[Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/)

> [I'm crazy on set. I don't know how people don't take my phone away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-m-crazy-on-set-i-don-t-know-how-people-don-t-take-my-phone-away/)

[Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/)

> [E-mail is far more convenient than the telephone, as far as I'm concerned. I would throw my phone away if I could get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/e-mail-is-far-more-convenient-than-the-telephone-as-far-as-i-m/)

[Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/)

> [Football is a great place to get away from things, and going over to Greece was amazing and I've loved it - it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/football-is-a-great-place-to-get-away-from-things-and-going-over-to/)

[John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/)

> [Hey Daniel if u see this they took my phone away so I have no contact at all with no one I miss you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/hey-daniel-if-u-see-this-they-took-my-phone-away-so-i-have-no-contact/)

[Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/)

> [“With a shaky hand he reached out and took the phone away from her and nearly groaned when he realized that his little recluse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/with-a-shaky-hand-he-reached-out-and-took-the-phone-away-from-her-and/)

[R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/)

> [You can't talk about leadership without talking about responsibility and accountability...you can't separate the two. A leader must delegate responsibility and provide the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/you-can-t-talk-about-leadership-without-talking-about-responsibility/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [You know, when we talk about leadership - in sports, politics, business - we talk a lot about success but not a whole lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-know-when-we-talk-about-leadership-in-sports-politics-business-we/)

[Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/)

> [Leadership can't be fabricated. If it is fabricated and rehearsed, you can't fool the guys in the locker room. So when you talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-seau/leadership-can-t-be-fabricated-if-it-is-fabricated-and-rehearsed-you/)

[Junior Seau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-seau/)

> [We don't always talk about that as a leadership quality. I think what's really important is having empathy, understanding the experiences of how someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/we-don-t-always-talk-about-that-as-a-leadership-quality-i-think-what/)

[Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/)

> [If your objective is to tell time, you will not buy a mechanical watch. You have the time on your phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-guadalupe/if-your-objective-is-to-tell-time-you-will-not-buy-a-mechanical-watch/)

[Ricardo Guadalupe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-guadalupe/)

## 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 Asks quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/)

[Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/)

> [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/)

[Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/)

[Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/)

Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When someone asks for your time, and you put your phone away to talk to them... that's leadership.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Simon Sinek"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you-put-your-phone-away-to-talk/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Asks"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you-put-your-phone-away-to-talk/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/209/simon-sinek-349_asks_when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you_338072.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When someone asks for your time, and you put your phone away to talk to them... that's leadership.” — Simon Sinek",
                "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": "Simon Sinek",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When someone asks for your time,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you-put-your-phone-away-to-talk/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/when-someone-asks-for-your-time-and-you-put-your-phone-away-to-talk/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
