People will remember …

Credit: Panuwat Dangsungnoen

People will remember how you made them feel.

This quote,

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,”

… is widely attributed to the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.

While not framed initially in a leadership context, it has become a powerful quote in leadership development, emotional intelligence training, and communication coaching.

I love this quote.

I often use this quote when I engage with leaders about their impact on their teams. When I ask them if they understand how their team members feel after interacting with them, it often leads to a moment of reflection. Many leaders don’t consider this question. Some do seek feedback, but asking how team members feel after working together is often a step too far. However, it’s crucial to leadership, empowering leaders to take responsibility for their impact.

Would you change the way you lead when you know that you will be most remembered for how you made people feel?

Do they feel empowered by you?