“Real success is not on the stage, but off the stage as a human being, and how you get along with your fellow man.” – Sammy Davis Jr.
Quotes are a great tool for motivating employees and yourself. They can help inspire teams and leaders to work together through many different situations. Familiar, eloquent voices encourage to connect through a common interest. This week’s quote comes from Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy was an American singer, dancer, actor, and musician who was an idol during the 1960s and 1970s. He had roles from Hollywood to Broadway and even became a star in Las Vegas giving him the nickname “Mister Show Business”. Sammy’s relationship with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra became known as the “Rat Pack,” featured in Ocean’s 11 and many other films. His many achievements were recognized by a plethora of award nominees, including awards from the Grammys, Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes, and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A Successful Leader
Sammy was not only a great performer, but he was an active citizen who fought for his rights in the Civil Rights movement. Although criticized as a Democrat for his support of President Nixon, he continued to show his political views to the public partly due to Nixon’s pro-Israeli mentality. He gave the startled President a hug during a live television broadcast. Sammy saw value in crossing the isle to support policies that he felt a strong need to support.
Behind the Scenes
Sammy’s quote touches on the nature of success. Success is not valued by money or status, but by being an active human being and working with others in society. Even though Sammy was brought up in the spotlight, he valued teamwork and relationships over recognition for his own talents. Sammy is still respected today for his comedy, musical talent, and film career, but also he is known for his personality and love of life.
As a leader, motivating employees is about making these types of human connections “behind the scenes”. We are all drawn to people to whom we have obvious connections; however, it is important for you to connect with your entire team – especially team members with different views and strategies than your own. The Progressive Networking Dinner is a great team building program to help get you started.
How have your personal relationships within your team helped you improve performance? We’d like to hear your stories about motivating employees.
Let us know how you value getting along in the workplace! Check out our blog every week for more team building quotes to inspire you and your team, and let us know which ones motivate you to excellence.
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