--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaders are problem solvers by talent and…" description: "\"Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice. For them, the new information environment-undermining old means of control, openi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/harlan-cleveland-63264_action_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1256224.jpg" --- # Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and… ![“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…” quote by Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/harlan-cleveland-63264_action_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1256224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/harlan-cleveland-63264_action_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1256224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/harlan-cleveland-63264_action_leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-an_1256224.jpg) > “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.” [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 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Entrepreneurial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurial/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [New information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-information/) [Opening up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-up/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [Posture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posture/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [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/) [Relevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevance/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) [Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thurber/) ## Related quotes > [A guest at a dinner party observed the strange expression on James Thurber's face. 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James Thurber”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in-2/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. —James Thurber”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/it-is-better-to-know-some-of-the-questions-than-all-of-the-answers/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [Many of the writers who have inspired me most are outside the genre: Humorists like Robert Benchley and James Thurber, screenwriters like Ben Hecht…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/many-of-the-writers-who-have-inspired-me-most-are-outside-the-genre/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“Despite an icy northeast wind huffing across the bay I sneak out after dark, after my mother falls asleep clutching her leather Bible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/despite-an-icy-northeast-wind-huffing-across-the-bay-i-sneak-out/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Memory in the mind of man can adapt to the worst conditions. I'll give you an example, an analogy of sorts: Each night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/memory-in-the-mind-of-man-can-adapt-to-the-worst-conditions-i-ll-give/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) ## 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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice-2/) [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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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