--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What great leaders have in common is that…" description: "\"“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time.”\" — Tom Rath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png" --- # What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows… ![“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png) > ““What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time.”” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership hinges on self‑awareness and the ability to deploy the most appropriate personal strength for each circumstance. **In simple terms:** Self‑knowledge enables strategic strength use. Key Takeaway Leverage your best trait when it matters most. Themes self‑awareness strengths leadership strategic action adaptability Mood confident purposeful Type advice observation When to use this quote - making a critical decision - coaching a team - crisis management Key Concepts strength identification situational judgment Practical Applications - leadership development programs - personal coaching Questions to Reflect On - How can you map your strengths to specific challenges? - What mechanisms help you recognize the right moment to act? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Great leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leaders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/what-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-really-knows-their-strengths/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [There is only one right in the world and that right is one's own strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/there-is-only-one-right-in-the-world-and-that-right-is-one-s-own/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“You don't need right - if you have strength”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/you-don-t-need-right-if-you-have-strength/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [It is always good when you have an experienced coach who knows your strengths and weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasprit-bumrah/it-is-always-good-when-you-have-an-experienced-coach-who-knows-your/) [Jasprit Bumrah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasprit-bumrah/) > [The chief executive who knows his strengths and weaknesses as a leader is likely to be far more effective than the one who remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adair/the-chief-executive-who-knows-his-strengths-and-weaknesses-as-a/) [John Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adair/) > [Trump knows where his strengths exist, and he is emphatically in favor of doubling down on them. This goes far beyond appointing Neil Gorsuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-domenech/trump-knows-where-his-strengths-exist-and-he-is-emphatically-in-favor/) [Ben Domenech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-domenech/) > [The greatest feeling in life is to find someone who knows your strengths and weaknesses but still willing to embrace you with so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-feeling-in-life-is-to-find-someone-who-knows-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think you believe in these words, I think - three very important words, peace through strength, right. Peace through strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-think-you-believe-in-these-words-i-think-three-very-important-words/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The strength you get when you get the right support, from the right person, at the right time, and the right place is called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/the-strength-you-get-when-you-get-the-right-support-from-the-right/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Please give me the strength to do what is right. Not just what I want, not just what I need, but what is right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-squiers/please-give-me-the-strength-to-do-what-is-right-not-just-what-i-want/) Amy Squiers > [But it's not enough to know right from wrong. You need the strength to do what's right, even when what you want most in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinda-williams-chima/but-it-s-not-enough-to-know-right-from-wrong-you-need-the-strength-to/) [Cinda Williams Chima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinda-williams-chima/) > [“Being with Cameron— in his bed— it's not physical, or sexual. "I understand ," I tell her. "But you don't have to worry, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mclean/being-with-cameron-in-his-bed-it-s-not-physical-or-sexual-i/) [Jay McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mclean/) > [Character is the moral strength to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/character-is-the-moral-strength-to-do-the-right-thing-even-when-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Put your strength right next to the motivation u get, simultaneously they work to make you a better breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-quperlier/put-your-strength-right-next-to-the-motivation-u-get-simultaneously/) [Simon Quperlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-quperlier/) > [As long as I've got my life, health and strength, and I'm in my right mind? I'mma get money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-40/as-long-as-i-ve-got-my-life-health-and-strength-and-i-m-in-my-right/) E-40 ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > ['StrengthsFinder 2.0' is an effort to get the core message and language out to a much broader audience. We had no idea how well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/strengthsfinder-2-0-is-an-effort-to-get-the-core-message-and-language/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) [Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/tom-rath-3501_business_what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-tha_61222.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right…” — Tom Rath", "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": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What great leaders have in common...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/#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 } } ] } ```