--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the things about leadership is…" description: "\"One of the things about leadership is that you cannot be a moderate, balanced, thoughtful, careful articulator of policy. You've got to be on the luna..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/jack-welch-1195_balanced_one-of-the-things-about-leadership-is-th_1121325.png" --- # One of the things about leadership is that you cannot be a… ![“One of the things about leadership is that you cannot be a moderate, balanced, thoughtful, careful articulator of policy. You've got to be on the lunatic fringe.” quote by Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/jack-welch-1195_balanced_one-of-the-things-about-leadership-is-th_1121325.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/jack-welch-1195_balanced_one-of-the-things-about-leadership-is-th_1121325.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/jack-welch-1195_balanced_one-of-the-things-about-leadership-is-th_1121325.png) > “One of the things about leadership is that you cannot be a moderate, balanced, thoughtful, careful articulator of policy. You've got to be on the lunatic fringe.” [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership requires bold, unconventional thinking rather than moderate, balanced approaches; extremes drive change. **In simple terms:** Leadership needs bold, extreme ideas, not moderate ones. Key Takeaway Embrace boldness to lead change. Themes leadership innovation risk Mood assertive inspirational Type business philosophical When to use this quote - corporate strategy - political activism - entrepreneurship Key Concepts radical thinking policy making Questions to Reflect On - How do you manage dissent while being radical? - What risks are worth taking? A Different Perspective Extremes can alienate moderate supporters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balanced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balanced/) [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Fringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fringe/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Moderate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-moderate-3034965/) [Lunatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunatic/) [Lunatic Fringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunatic-fringe-366770/) [Moderate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderate/) [Moderate Balanced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderate-balanced-3034966/) [Moderates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderates/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Things Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-leadership-312797/) [Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful/) ## Related quotes > [People like me, who care about printing, constitute the tiniest lunatic fringe in the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-baskin/people-like-me-who-care-about-printing-constitute-the-tiniest-lunatic/) [Leonard Baskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-baskin/) > [That was like the moment of revelation for me that in fact we are not the lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/that-was-like-the-moment-of-revelation-for-me-that-in-fact-we-are-not/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [There is apt to be a lunatic fringe among the votaries of any forward movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-apt-to-be-a-lunatic-fringe-among-the-votaries-of-any-forward/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Writers are the lunatic fringe of publishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/writers-are-the-lunatic-fringe-of-publishing/) [Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/) > [The way to find what the mainstream will do tomorrow is to associate with the lunatic fringe today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-louis/the-way-to-find-what-the-mainstream-will-do-tomorrow-is-to-associate/) [Jean Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-louis/) > [The lunatic fringe in all reform movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-lunatic-fringe-in-all-reform-movements/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [When you have a liberal class that no longer functions, when those people who traditionally defend and care about a civil society no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/when-you-have-a-liberal-class-that-no-longer-functions-when-those/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Does political correctness have a good side? Yes, it does, for it makes us re-examine attitudes, and that is always useful. The trouble is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/does-political-correctness-have-a-good-side-yes-it-does-for-it-makes/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [You sometimes find something good in the lunatic fringe. In fact, we have got as part of our social and economic government today a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/you-sometimes-find-something-good-in-the-lunatic-fringe-in-fact-we/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The lunatic fringe is more like a Spanish shawl, where the fringe makes up the entire garment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-lunatic-fringe-is-more-like-a-spanish-shawl-where-the-fringe/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The lunatic fringe wags the underdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-lunatic-fringe-wags-the-underdog/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [One of the things about leadership is that you've got to show up. And if you want to be president of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pawlenty/one-of-the-things-about-leadership-is-that-you-ve-got-to-show-up-and/) [Tim Pawlenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pawlenty/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [Moderate people are able to be moderate and have free speech only because there are some people on the fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chappatte/moderate-people-are-able-to-be-moderate-and-have-free-speech-only/) [Patrick Chappatte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chappatte/) ## More by Jack Welch > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I think the move by Mr. Greenspan was welcomed by everyone here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/i-think-the-move-by-mr-greenspan-was-welcomed-by-everyone-here/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [We know where most of the creativity, the innovation, the stuff that drives productivity lies - in the minds of those closest to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/we-know-where-most-of-the-creativity-the-innovation-the-stuff-that/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [So every time you think about your work-life balance issue, remember what your boss is thinking about - and that's winning. Your needs may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/so-every-time-you-think-about-your-work-life-balance-issue-remember/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Wright is a visionary with a great strategic mind, and he's a strong business leader with outstanding people skills, ... He's a terrific guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/wright-is-a-visionary-with-a-great-strategic-mind-and-he-s-a-strong/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [In order to lead a country or a company, you've got to get everybody on the same page and you've got to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/in-order-to-lead-a-country-or-a-company-you-ve-got-to-get-everybody/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Real communication is an attitude, an environment. It is the most interactive of all processes. It requires countless hours of eyeball to eyeball, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/real-communication-is-an-attitude-an-environment-it-is-the-most/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [No one is doing something in your business - getting a sale, having a key customer, working on an R&D project - doing anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/no-one-is-doing-something-in-your-business-getting-a-sale-having-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Some people have better ideas than others; some are smarter or more experienced or more creative. But everyone should be heard and respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/some-people-have-better-ideas-than-others-some-are-smarter-or-more/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Shareholder value is a result, not a strategy . . . Your main constituencies are your employees, your customers and your products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/shareholder-value-is-a-result-not-a-strategy-your-main-constituencies/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/the-essence-of-competitiveness-is-liberated-when-we-make-people/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) [Explore all 275 Jack Welch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## More Balanced quotes > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If our homes should provide anything, they should provide a sense of who we are and how we got here, a sense of connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-conran/if-our-homes-should-provide-anything-they-should-provide-a-sense-of/) [Terence Conran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-conran/) > [But change must always be balanced with some degree of consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-d-burton/but-change-must-always-be-balanced-with-some-degree-of-consistency/) [Ron D. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-d-burton/) > [I want my whole life to be a great work of art, not just my art. And that means paying attention to my entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/i-want-my-whole-life-to-be-a-great-work-of-art-not-just-my-art-and/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Defense spending as a share of the economy dropped significantly during the early 1990s, and that was one of the things, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orszag/defense-spending-as-a-share-of-the-economy-dropped-significantly/) [Peter Orszag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orszag/) > [All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/all-fits-of-pleasure-are-balanced-by-an-equal-degree-of-pain-or/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [The most significant halachic authority of the last 100 years, whose positions helped fashion a balanced and moderate Judaism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovadia-yosef/the-most-significant-halachic-authority-of-the-last-100-years-whose/) [Ovadia Yosef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovadia-yosef/) > [Youth is seen as everything. You don't know anything when you're young. It's great being older, just having a more balanced perspective. I wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/youth-is-seen-as-everything-you-don-t-know-anything-when-you-re-young/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Like, if you look at Heidi Montag, who got 10 surgeries she didn't need, I think that's unfortunate. I've always been voluptuous with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/like-if-you-look-at-heidi-montag-who-got-10-surgeries-she-didn-t-need/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel peaceful. Not happy. Not sad. Not anxious. Not horny. Just all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/for-the-first-time-in-longer-than-i-can-remember-i-feel-peaceful-not/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Jane' is really about finding that thing in your life to keep you balanced and free from stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-marley/jane-is-really-about-finding-that-thing-in-your-life-to-keep-you/) [Skip Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-marley/) > [I was the chairman of the House Budget Committee and one of the chief architects the last time we balanced a budget, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-house-budget-committee-and-one-of-the-chief/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [I do try to watch it. I'm not saying you have to put yourself on a diet, because I hate the word "diet." 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