--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those with visible responsibility for…" description: "\"Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for change.\" — Harlan Cleveland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png" --- # Those with visible responsibility for leadership are… ![“Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for change.” quote by Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png) > “Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for change.” [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. Leaders who are highly visible often avoid accountability for change because visibility creates pressure and risk. **In simple terms:** Visible leaders may shy away from change responsibility. Key Takeaway Leaders should embrace accountability despite visibility. Themes leadership accountability visibility Mood analytical critical Type strategic leadership When to use this quote - corporate strategy - public office - non‑profit governance Key Concepts organizational behavior change management psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can visible leaders take bold actions? - What structures support accountable leadership? A Different Perspective Visibility can also empower change; it isn’t purely limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [As a public official and being so highly visible, I have a responsibility to make it very clear that those people who will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-boggs/as-a-public-official-and-being-so-highly-visible-i-have-a/) [Lindy Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-boggs/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pollard/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-to-provide-opportunity-and-the/) [William Pollard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pollard/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership and management to give opportunities and put demands on people which enable them to grow as human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-jones/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-and-management-to-give/) [John Harvey-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-jones/) > [The responsibility of leadership is not taken, it is given. Only when others choose to follow us can we truly lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not-taken-it-is-given-only-when/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“To instill the values for the culture was and is the responsibility of the leadership, and staff alignment was critical to its success. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-mallory/to-instill-the-values-for-the-culture-was-and-is-the-responsibility/) [Sue Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-mallory/) > [“Leaders are not born that way…they are developed through their experiences and their internal work. What good is an opinion where you don’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-x-smith/leaders-are-not-born-that-way-they-are-developed-through-their/) Thomas X. Smith > [My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/my-responsibility-is-leadership-and-the-minute-i-get-negative-that-is/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [The cardinal responsibility of leadership is to identify the dominant contradiction at each point of the historical process and to work out a central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-cardinal-responsibility-of-leadership-is-to-identify-the-dominant/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [I began at some point to understand the whole idea of accountability and responsibility and leadership, and I think that was something that really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-began-at-some-point-to-understand-the-whole-idea-of-accountability/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given, and not waste time fantasizing about a world of flawless people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-to-work-intelligently-with/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Bipartisanship isn't an option anymore; it is a requirement. The American people have divided responsibility for leadership right down the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-daschle/bipartisanship-isn-t-an-option-anymore-it-is-a-requirement-the/) [Tom Daschle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-daschle/) > [The responsibility of leadership is not to come up with all the ideas but to create an environment in which great ideas can thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-responsibility-of-leadership-is-not-to-come-up-with-all-the-ideas/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“It is not the fault of the baristas working behind the counter. It is the responsibility of the leadership team to keep our culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/it-is-not-the-fault-of-the-baristas-working-behind-the-counter-it-is/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [A fundamental responsibility of leadership is make sure that everybody knows the mission, understands it, lives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/a-fundamental-responsibility-of-leadership-is-make-sure-that/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The overall way of thinking in the United States has shifted away from basic Biblical values, and the media share in the responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-overall-way-of-thinking-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-away/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## More 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…](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/) > [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 Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harlan Cleveland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/those-with-visible-responsibility-for-leadership-are-nearly-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/those-with-visible-responsibility-for-leadership-are-nearly-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/harlan-cleveland-63264_change_those-with-visible-responsibility-for-le_766290.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those with visible responsibility for leadership are nearly always too visible to take responsibility for…” — 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": "Those with visible responsibility for leadership...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/those-with-visible-responsibility-for-leadership-are-nearly-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/those-with-visible-responsibility-for-leadership-are-nearly-always/#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 } } ] } ```