--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leadership is not about having the…" description: "\"Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking inspirational words, but about leading with example.\" — Zainab Salbi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png" --- # Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking… ![“Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking inspirational words, but about leading with example.” quote by Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png) > “Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking inspirational words, but about leading with example.” [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) ## 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 demonstrated through actions, not just words or charisma. **In simple terms:** Lead by example, not talk. Key Takeaway Model the behavior you expect. Themes leadership integrity example Mood inspirational pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team management - community service - mentoring Key Concepts ethical leadership role modeling influence Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders model integrity? - What actions speak louder than speeches? A Different Perspective Charisma alone cannot sustain trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charisma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charisma/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Leadership is leading by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gianforte/leadership-is-leading-by-example/) [Greg Gianforte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gianforte/) > [Leading by example is better than arguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-tha-product/leading-by-example-is-better-than-arguing/) [Snow Tha Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-tha-product/) > [Leading by example is something I've always tried to pride myself on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-kuechly/leading-by-example-is-something-i-ve-always-tried-to-pride-myself-on/) [Luke Kuechly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-kuechly/) > [I really feel that leading by example is the best way for people to see who you are and let them connect with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-really-feel-that-leading-by-example-is-the-best-way-for-people-to/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [If I'm not leading by example, then I'm not doing the right thing. And I want to always do the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/if-i-m-not-leading-by-example-then-i-m-not-doing-the-right-thing-and/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [It's all about leading by example. Am I going to be perfect? Absolutely not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-williams/it-s-all-about-leading-by-example-am-i-going-to-be-perfect-absolutely/) [Mo Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-williams/) > [“Each day you are leading by example. Whether you realize it or not or whether it's positive or negative, you are influencing those around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/each-day-you-are-leading-by-example-whether-you-realize-it-or-not-or/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [Being a leader gives you charisma. If you look and study the leaders who have succeeded, that's where charisma comes from, from the leading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/being-a-leader-gives-you-charisma-if-you-look-and-study-the-leaders/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is not only having a vision, but also having the courage, the discipline, and the resources to get you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/leadership-is-not-only-having-a-vision-but-also-having-the-courage/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I'm proud to say that, leading by example, I've tried from day one to help recalibrate views of women in the world of football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-m-proud-to-say-that-leading-by-example-i-ve-tried-from-day-one-to/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [“she’s too quiet about it.” “Isn’t that the point of leading by example?” Kat frowned at her ball of yarn, more of a tangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/she-s-too-quiet-about-it-isn-t-that-the-point-of-leading-by-example/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [Leading...always, with the example of our values. Thats what makes us exceptional. Thats what keeps us strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/leading-always-with-the-example-of-our-values-thats-what-makes-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Leading by example is the most powerful advice you can give to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/leading-by-example-is-the-most-powerful-advice-you-can-give-to-anybody/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [I like leading by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/i-like-leading-by-example/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) ## More by Zainab Salbi > [Since I was 15 years old I have dedicated my life to serving women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/since-i-was-15-years-old-i-have-dedicated-my-life-to-serving-women/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Only 1 in 13 participants in peace negotiations since 1992 has been a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/only-1-in-13-participants-in-peace-negotiations-since-1992-has-been-a/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I learned that victims come in all image - some raped, some witnessing an act of violence, some losing loved ones. I learned that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-learned-that-victims-come-in-all-image-some-raped-some-witnessing/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Women in the Arab world have a rich history in their active participation in political change from the Algeria revolution against the French occupation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/women-in-the-arab-world-have-a-rich-history-in-their-active/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [My message to the world is that until we recognize that peace is not just the absence of war but the revival of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/my-message-to-the-world-is-that-until-we-recognize-that-peace-is-not/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Stronger women build stronger nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/stronger-women-build-stronger-nations/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I grew up with injustice and could do nothing about it. But once in America, I had freedom of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-grew-up-with-injustice-and-could-do-nothing-about-it-but-once-in/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I by no means intend to simplify the challenges women face in any culture. Women are marginalized in all cultures in my opinion, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-by-no-means-intend-to-simplify-the-challenges-women-face-in-any/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [From an economic perspective, women are treated unfairly: they perform 66 percent of the world's work and produce 50 percent of the food but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/from-an-economic-perspective-women-are-treated-unfairly-they-perform/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [There is never a typical week. I don't think I can live with a typical week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/there-is-never-a-typical-week-i-don-t-think-i-can-live-with-a-typical/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Where has change ever been clean and nice? It has always been messy and painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/where-has-change-ever-been-clean-and-nice-it-has-always-been-messy/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [As women, we must speak out, speak up, say no to our inheritance of loss and yes to a future of women-led dialogue about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/as-women-we-must-speak-out-speak-up-say-no-to-our-inheritance-of-loss/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I don't have a child, so Women for Women is like my child. But I always said I would step down after 20 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-don-t-have-a-child-so-women-for-women-is-like-my-child-but-i-always/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [Everything is give and take. The solutions are in the middle not in the extremity of the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/everything-is-give-and-take-the-solutions-are-in-the-middle-not-in/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [When war ends, women are the first to pick up the pieces. Where there is no market place, they go door to door. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/when-war-ends-women-are-the-first-to-pick-up-the-pieces-where-there/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) [Explore all 66 Zainab Salbi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) ## More Charisma quotes > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [“Self-confident people face their fears head-on and are willing to take risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/self-confident-people-face-their-fears-head-on-and-are-willing-to/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Building confidence is an ongoing process and something that can be accomplished over time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/building-confidence-is-an-ongoing-process-and-something-that-can-be/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [No one has more charisma than me in WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/no-one-has-more-charisma-than-me-in-wwe/) [Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/) > [They say I'm a natural, I have natural charisma. People say that. I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-henry/they-say-i-m-a-natural-i-have-natural-charisma-people-say-that-i-don/) [Dwight Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-henry/) > [I think generally the heads of terrorist groups are very, very smart people. They're also great manipulators. I would presume that cult leaders are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-napoleoni/i-think-generally-the-heads-of-terrorist-groups-are-very-very-smart/) [Loretta Napoleoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-napoleoni/) > [“If you're completely off your rocker and have delusions of grandeur in which your personal existence is of special significance to the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-wolfe/if-you-re-completely-off-your-rocker-and-have-delusions-of-grandeur/) [Edward M. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-wolfe/) > [Never be impressed with charisma. Look for character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/never-be-impressed-with-charisma-look-for-character/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [New concepts should be introduced by the power of imagery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coop/new-concepts-should-be-introduced-by-the-power-of-imagery/) Douglas Coop > [Charisma is not just saying hello. It's dropping what you're doing to say hello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/charisma-is-not-just-saying-hello-it-s-dropping-what-you-re-doing-to/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“When they are authentically engaged, their positive impressions create memorable moments and leave a lasting impact. Physical beauty becomes irrelevant because their exuberance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/when-they-are-authentically-engaged-their-positive-impressions-create/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [John Kerry and Ralph Nader met face-to-face, it was a historic meeting. Astronomers said today their meeting actually created what is called a 'charisma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-and-ralph-nader-met-face-to-face-it-was-a-historic-meeting/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [In high school I had B's and C's, not too many A's, but I must have done well on that medical school test, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-marshall/in-high-school-i-had-b-s-and-c-s-not-too-many-a-s-but-i-must-have/) [Barry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-marshall/) > [Jeanne Moreau, Lauren Bacall, they had this unconventional beauty, this amazing charisma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/jeanne-moreau-lauren-bacall-they-had-this-unconventional-beauty-this/) [Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/) [Browse all 349 Charisma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charisma/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking inspirational words, but about leading with example.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zainab Salbi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/leadership-is-not-about-having-the-charisma-or-speaking-inspirational/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charisma" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/leadership-is-not-about-having-the-charisma-or-speaking-inspirational/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/074/zainab-salbi-10354_charisma_leadership-is-not-about-having-the-chari_2915869.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leadership is not about having the charisma or speaking inspirational words, but about leading with example.” — Zainab Salbi", "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": "Zainab Salbi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Leadership is not about having the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/leadership-is-not-about-having-the-charisma-or-speaking-inspirational/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/leadership-is-not-about-having-the-charisma-or-speaking-inspirational/#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 } } ] } ```