--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaders are problem solvers by talent and…" description: "\"Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice.\" — Harlan Cleveland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png" --- # Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and… ![“Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice.” quote by Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png) > “Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice.” [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leaders combine innate ability, personality, and deliberate decisions to solve problems. **In simple terms:** Leaders solve problems using skill, temperament, and choice. Key Takeaway Cultivate both talent and mindset. Themes leadership problem solving choice Mood inspirational reflective Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - team management - crisis response - strategic planning - conflict resolution Key Concepts temperament decision making skill development Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance natural ability with conscious choices? - What temperament traits aid problem solving? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without intentional growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-problem-3233672/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solvers/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Solved problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solved-problems/) [Solvers Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solvers-talent-3233673/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-temperament-1942915/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) ## Related quotes > [“Here all the Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leaders-problem-solver-talent/here-all-the-leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament/) [Leaders Problem Solver Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leaders-problem-solver-talent/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [I intend to work for this dance of the future. I do not know whether I have the necessary qualities; I may have neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/i-intend-to-work-for-this-dance-of-the-future-i-do-not-know-whether-i/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [The rationale for accepting or rejecting any theory is thus fundamentally based on the idea of problem-solving progress. If one research tradition has solved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-laudan/the-rationale-for-accepting-or-rejecting-any-theory-is-thus/) [Larry Laudan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-laudan/) > [Will and energy sometimes prove greater than either genius or talent or temperament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/will-and-energy-sometimes-prove-greater-than-either-genius-or-talent/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [“A turbulent history has taught Chinese leaders that not every problem has a solution and that too great an emphasis on total mastery over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kissinger/a-turbulent-history-has-taught-chinese-leaders-that-not-every-problem/) [Henry Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kissinger/) > [Fixing this broken system will take the perspective of someone who has actually solved problems. 31 years of manufacturing taught me how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/fixing-this-broken-system-will-take-the-perspective-of-someone-who/) [Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/) > [“I never encountered any crisis in life, because I solved my problems before they turned into crisis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-never-encountered-any-crisis-in-life-because-i-solved-my-problems/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [There are no solved problems; there are only problems that are more or less solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/there-are-no-solved-problems-there-are-only-problems-that-are-more-or/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [I never considered myself more able than anybody because I had problems just like anybody else. When I practiced, I solved problems, like any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/i-never-considered-myself-more-able-than-anybody-because-i-had/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [Violent crime is a solved problem - all they have to do is repeal the laws that keep those intelligent, capable, and responsible men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/violent-crime-is-a-solved-problem-all-they-have-to-do-is-repeal-the/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/when-i-m-working-on-a-problem-i-never-think-about-beauty-i-think-only/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [A GREAT discovery solves a great problem but there is a grain of discovery in any problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/a-great-discovery-solves-a-great-problem-but-there-is-a-grain-of/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [You must maximize the probability that someone shows up at front door of your store or website and ends up with a solved problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/you-must-maximize-the-probability-that-someone-shows-up-at-front-door/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [For us the great men are not those who solved the problems, but those whodiscovered them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-us-the-great-men-are-not-those-who-solved-the-problems-but-those/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More by Harlan Cleveland > [Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/those-with-visible-responsibility-for-leadership-are-nearly-always/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [For the problem of decision-making in our complicated world is not how to get the problem simple enough so that we can all understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/for-the-problem-of-decision-making-in-our-complicated-world-is-not/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [If you try too carefully to plan your life, the danger is that you will succeed-succeed in narrowing your options, closing off avenues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/if-you-try-too-carefully-to-plan-your-life-the-danger-is-that-you/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) [Explore all 5 Harlan Cleveland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harlan Cleveland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/harlan-cleveland-63264_choices_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1359962.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice.” — Harlan Cleveland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harlan Cleveland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Leaders are problem solvers by talent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```