--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: successful leaders are bigger than any…" description: "\"“successful leaders are bigger than any individual outcome; their sense of self-worth doesn’t depend on its having to work. Their whole self-image is n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png" --- # successful leaders are bigger than any individual outcome… ![“successful leaders are bigger than any individual outcome; their sense of self-worth doesn’t depend on its having to work. Their whole self-image is not at stake. They are separate from “the deal.” quote by Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png) > ““successful leaders are bigger than any individual outcome; their sense of self-worth doesn’t depend on its having to work. Their whole self-image is not at stake. They are separate from “the deal.”” [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders should separate their identity from outcomes, maintaining self-worth regardless of success or failure. **In simple terms:** Leaders keep self-worth separate from results. Key Takeaway Detach self-esteem from results. Themes leadership self-worth identity resilience Mood reflective steady Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - team leadership - personal setbacks - career milestones Key Concepts psychology self-concept performance pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain confidence when outcomes are poor? - What practices keep you grounded beyond results? A Different Perspective Self-worth can still be affected by external criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-leaders/) ## Related quotes > [We'd like to think that our music will always be bigger than any one of our individual personalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/we-d-like-to-think-that-our-music-will-always-be-bigger-than-any-one/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [The Olympics are great, but they only truly mean something when the moments that come out of them are bigger than the individual sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/the-olympics-are-great-but-they-only-truly-mean-something-when-the/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [The club is always bigger than the individual, and employers can make a player's life miserable if they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/the-club-is-always-bigger-than-the-individual-and-employers-can-make/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [You can’t be a successful leader or mentor until you have served. You can’t serve until you have stepped out of your comfort zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/you-can-t-be-a-successful-leader-or-mentor-until-you-have-served-you/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [“You have to understand and appreciate the value in people before you can notice those in need and be of help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-have-to-understand-and-appreciate-the-value-in-people-before-you/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“God living in you will mean nothing to you, it might not be of any worth to you until you act on some things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/god-living-in-you-will-mean-nothing-to-you-it-might-not-be-of-any/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Women who have learned how to always be in touch with their sensuality can't help but attract at the highest vibrational level than those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/women-who-have-learned-how-to-always-be-in-touch-with-their/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“You have something already, you have a worth, self-worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-have-something-already-you-have-a-worth-self-worth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“The world seems to have certain criteria with which it judges the value of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-world-seems-to-have-certain-criteria-with-which-it-judges-the/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“It is unfortunate that many people today cannot appreciate the value that every man possesses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-unfortunate-that-many-people-today-cannot-appreciate-the-value/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Leverage on your self-worth and convert it into net worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/leverage-on-your-self-worth-and-convert-it-into-net-worth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“People will rather pass by the weak, the lame, the beggars, the orphans, the tormented, the widows and take their large offerings to church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-will-rather-pass-by-the-weak-the-lame-the-beggars-the-orphans/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Every man from his worth can build and increase his net worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-man-from-his-worth-can-build-and-increase-his-net-worth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Every human being on earth is the same and our very being is crying out for same need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-human-being-on-earth-is-the-same-and-our-very-being-is-crying/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Every man wants to be appreciated, so do not just commend your secretary, commend your wife at home too The world judges people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-man-wants-to-be-appreciated-so-do-not-just-commend-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Henry Cloud > [The amount of truth a relationship can handle is proportional to the amount of perceived love that's present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-amount-of-truth-a-relationship-can-handle-is-proportional-to-the/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Are we paying attention to what is important, inhibiting the things that will not help or will hurt us, and keeping current?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/are-we-paying-attention-to-what-is-important-inhibiting-the-things/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Neglecting them leads to spiritual and emotional problems; having them met, however, frees us to meet the needs of others cheerfully and without resentment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/neglecting-them-leads-to-spiritual-and-emotional-problems-having-them/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“we need people to whom we can talk and who will understand without invalidating our feelings by saying the following: You shouldn’t feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-need-people-to-whom-we-can-talk-and-who-will-understand-without/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Leadership is not taken, it is given. People give leadership to those that they trust. They allow people that they trust to have influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/leadership-is-not-taken-it-is-given-people-give-leadership-to-those/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“What appear to be dangerous and even bad periods in some lives can actually bring them closer to the Lord, because these individuals honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/what-appear-to-be-dangerous-and-even-bad-periods-in-some-lives-can/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“We are drawn to Jesus because “he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). People who are growing up are also drawn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/we-are-drawn-to-jesus-because-he-learned-obedience-from-what-he/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [If you want to become healthy, you have to surround yourself with a group of people that are getting healthy, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/if-you-want-to-become-healthy-you-have-to-surround-yourself-with-a/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Dont use all-or-nothing thinking. Take each day as its own day, and dont worry about it if you mess up one day. The most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/dont-use-all-or-nothing-thinking-take-each-day-as-its-own-day-and/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Faith goes beyond reason. It goes beyond what you can see. But it is as real as anything you can touch or feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/faith-goes-beyond-reason-it-goes-beyond-what-you-can-see-but-it-is-as/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/boundaries-are-basically-about-providing-structure-and-structure-is/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Forgiveness and opening up to more abuse are not the same thing. Forgiveness has to do with the past. Reconciliation and boundaries have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/forgiveness-and-opening-up-to-more-abuse-are-not-the-same-thing/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“The old saying, “Don’t get mad. Just get even” isn’t accurate. It’s far better to say, “Don’t get mad. Set a limit!” Myth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/the-old-saying-don-t-get-mad-just-get-even-isn-t-accurate-it-s-far/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“When we fail to express our needs, we remain islands unto ourselves—detached, alone, arrogant, and proud. But when we expose our needs, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/when-we-fail-to-express-our-needs-we-remain-islands-unto-ourselves/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“Receiving forgiveness when we know we’ve truly blown it is a humbling and growth-producing experience. It’s the only thing better than forgiving someone else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/receiving-forgiveness-when-we-know-we-ve-truly-blown-it-is-a-humbling/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) [Explore all 251 Henry Cloud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) ## More Leader quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I always wanted someone looking up to me and trying to understand where I'm coming from as a leader. I'm ready for that. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-always-wanted-someone-looking-up-to-me-and-trying-to-understand/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Leadership is made for service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/leadership-is-made-for-service/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [“All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-to-often-on-the-long-road-up-young-leaders-become-servants-of/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Browse all 10,680 Leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“successful leaders are bigger than any individual outcome; their sense of self-worth doesn’t depend on its having to work. Their whole self-image is not at stake. They are separate from “the deal.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Cloud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-individual-outcome-their-sense/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Leader" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-individual-outcome-their-sense/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/henry-cloud-1322_leader_successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-i_1745419.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“successful leaders are bigger than any individual outcome; their sense of self-worth doesn’t depend on its…” — Henry Cloud", "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": "Henry Cloud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“successful leaders are bigger than any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-individual-outcome-their-sense/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/successful-leaders-are-bigger-than-any-individual-outcome-their-sense/#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 } } ] } ```