If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you’ll be amazed at the results.

Often attributed to General George S. Patton, the line encapsulates a leadership philosophy of setting clear objectives while granting subordinates autonomy in execution. The speaker advocates “mission-type” command: leaders define the destination (intent, priorities, constraints), then trust competent teams to improvise methods suited to local conditions. The implied context is military command, where rigid instructions can fail amid uncertainty, and initiative at lower levels can exploit fleeting opportunities. The quote’s enduring appeal in business and management reflects the same idea: clarity of purpose plus freedom of approach can produce faster, more creative, and more accountable performance than micromanagement.