Action Quote by Harlan Cleveland
“Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice. For them, the new information environment-undermining old means of control, opening up old closets of secrecy, reducing the relevance of ownership, early arrival, and location-should seem less a litany of problems than an agenda for action. Reaching for a way to describe the entrepreneurial energy of his fabled editor Harold Ross, James Thurber said" 'He was always leaning forward, pushing something invisible ahead of him.' That's the appropriate posture for a knowledge executive.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Knowledge Management, James Thurber, 1970
Effective leaders view changing information landscapes as opportunities for proactive action rather than obstacles, embodying an entrepreneurial mindset.
In simple terms: Leaders turn challenges into action.
Key Takeaway
Adopt a forward‑leaning, proactive stance.
Themes
leadership
innovation
knowledge management
entrepreneurial mindset
Mood
determined
optimistic
Type
advisory
inspirational
When to use this quote
- executive decision‑making
- organizational change
- digital transformation
- policy development
Key Concepts
systems thinking
strategic agility
information flow
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you transform a perceived problem into an actionable agenda?
- What habits support a forward‑leaning executive posture?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on technology can ignore human factors.
