Meaning
Dwight D. Eisenhower’s quote, “By leadership we mean the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it,” connects to the idea that real leadership creates commitment, not just compliance — people move because they believe in the goal and feel ownership, not because they’re being pushed by authority.
How to apply it in practice:
- Start every assignment with the why (“Here’s what success changes for customers/the team.”)
- Offer choice of approach (define the outcome + constraints, let the person pick the method)
- Ask for their plan first: “How would you tackle this? What support do you need?”
- Publicly recognize initiative and ownership, not just results.
Source
Eisenhower, D. D. (1954, May 12). Remarks at the Annual Conference of the Society for Personnel Administration. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home.