--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A leader must identify himself with the…" description: "\"A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/vince-lombardi-1357_approval_a-leader-must-identify-himself-with-the_602313.jpg" --- # A leader must identify himself with the group, must back… ![“A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. If this feeling prevails, production, discipline, morale will be high, and in return, you can demand the cooperation…” quote by Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/vince-lombardi-1357_approval_a-leader-must-identify-himself-with-the_602313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/vince-lombardi-1357_approval_a-leader-must-identify-himself-with-the_602313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/vince-lombardi-1357_approval_a-leader-must-identify-himself-with-the_602313.jpg) > “A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. If this feeling prevails, production, discipline, morale will be high, and in return, you can demand the cooperation to promote the goals of the community.” [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader should align with the team, support it, even if it displeases higher-ups, because earning the team's approval boosts performance and morale, enabling collective goal achievement. **In simple terms:** Leaders succeed by earning team approval, even over superiors. Key Takeaway Prioritize team trust over hierarchy. Themes leadership team dynamics motivation Mood determined confident Type advice motivational When to use this quote - project management - military units - sports teams - community initiatives Key Concepts organizational behavior social approval collective efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance loyalty to your team with directives from above? - When might compromising with superiors be necessary? A Different Perspective If superiors oppose, the leader may face retaliation or loss of authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Morale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morale/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [Orderly discipline and morale within an army was the responsibility of the Division Commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/orderly-discipline-and-morale-within-an-army-was-the-responsibility/) [Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/) > [I'll put the Packers' best players on defense. It's best for a team and good for its morale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-ll-put-the-packers-best-players-on-defense-it-s-best-for-a-team-and/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [ Before the TV show of Jessica Jones, the response to Miles \[Morales\] is so overwhelming, and so constant, and it's been five years now.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/before-the-tv-show-of-jessica-jones-the-response-to-miles-morales-is/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) > [“The people that humanity needs most are those who manage to be cheerful even on a frightening dark street, because high morale is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-people-that-humanity-needs-most-are-those-who-manage-to-be/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The second effort was spreading the word among the people, first, in a bid to raise their morale, and second to instil in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/the-second-effort-was-spreading-the-word-among-the-people-first-in-a/) [Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/) > [”Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/morale-is-the-state-of-mind-it-is-steadfastness-and-courage-and-hope/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The distance between your Dreams and Reality is inversely proportional to your Efforts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/the-distance-between-your-dreams-and-reality-is-inversely/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [“Hope is Nature's Defibrillator (The Sonnet) Hope is nature's defibrillator that, Electrifies the heart to unsubmission. Hope rescues us from the depths of despair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/hope-is-nature-s-defibrillator-the-sonnet-hope-is-nature-s/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Activity without advancement is just motion- and motion burns money, time, and morale.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamail-aijaz/activity-without-advancement-is-just-motion-and-motion-burns-money/) [Shamail Aijaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamail-aijaz/) > [Fashion is neither moral or immoral, but it is for rebuilding the morale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/fashion-is-neither-moral-or-immoral-but-it-is-for-rebuilding-the/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [If you are confident you have done everything possible to prepare yourself, then there is nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-are-confident-you-have-done-everything-possible-to-prepare/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Trust is kind of this economic lubricant. When trust is high, morale is high. ... Higher trust environments produce individuals who are happier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-zak/trust-is-kind-of-this-economic-lubricant-when-trust-is-high-morale-is/) [Paul J. Zak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-zak/) > [If he were allowed contact with foreigners he would discover that they are creatures similar to himself and that most of what he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-he-were-allowed-contact-with-foreigners-he-would-discover-that/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We're certain there are people that can't stand what America stands for... We're certain there are madmen in this world, and there's terror, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-re-certain-there-are-people-that-can-t-stand-what-america-stands/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Having your work honored nationally is a great morale booster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/having-your-work-honored-nationally-is-a-great-morale-booster/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) ## More by Vince Lombardi > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Brains without competitive hearts are rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/brains-without-competitive-hearts-are-rudderless/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. Every job is a self portrait of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/unless-you-try-to-do-something-beyond-what-you-have-already-mastered/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [They do not truly love who do not show their love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/they-do-not-truly-love-who-do-not-show-their-love/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [When you're tired, you rationalize. You make excuses in your mind. You say, "I'm too tired; I'm bushed; I can't do this; I'll loaf."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/when-you-re-tired-you-rationalize-you-make-excuses-in-your-mind-you/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Mental toughness is many things. It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-many-things-it-is-humility-because-it-behooves/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Winning is not the most important thing; it's everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-the-most-important-thing-it-s-everything/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The only true satisfaction a player receives is the satisfaction that comes from being part of a successful team, regardless of his personal accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-only-true-satisfaction-a-player-receives-is-the-satisfaction-that/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [ \[Football is\] a game that requires the constant conjuring of animosity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/football-is-a-game-that-requires-the-constant-conjuring-of-animosity/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-have-finished-second-twice-in-my-time-at-green-bay-and-i-don-t-ever/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [They call it coaching but it is teaching. You do not just tell them...you show them the reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/they-call-it-coaching-but-it-is-teaching-you-do-not-just-tell-them/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-everything-but-wanting-to-win-is/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/you-never-win-a-game-unless-you-beat-the-guy-in-front-of-you-the/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-spartanism-with-qualities-of-sacrifice-self/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-think-you-can-accomplish-anything-if-you-re-willing-to-pay-the-price/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) [Explore all 251 Vince Lombardi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A leader must identify himself with the group, must back up the group, even at the risk of displeasing superiors. He must believe that the group wants from him a sense of approval. 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