--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The major challenge of most executives is…" description: "\"The major challenge of most executives is not understanding the practice of leadership - it is practicing their understanding of leadership.\" — Marshal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png" --- # The major challenge of most executives is not… ![“The major challenge of most executives is not understanding the practice of leadership - it is practicing their understanding of leadership.” quote by Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png) > “The major challenge of most executives is not understanding the practice of leadership - it is practicing their understanding of leadership.” [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership development requires actively applying and testing one's understanding, not just theoretical knowledge. **In simple terms:** Leadership is practiced, not just studied. Key Takeaway Apply leadership concepts daily. Themes leadership growth self‑awareness Mood motivational pragmatic Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - personal development plans - training programs Key Concepts Leadership theory behavioral change executive coaching Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn leadership ideas into action? - What barriers stop you from practicing leadership? A Different Perspective Practical application can be hindered by organizational inertia. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Executives Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives-understanding-5412847/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Practicing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-practicing-5412848/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-leadership-2854741/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-leadership-288455/) ## Related quotes > [“In a human development sense, our understanding of leadership has essentially “grown up” and moved past personal ego and a self-centered view of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-fisher-thornton/in-a-human-development-sense-our-understanding-of-leadership-has/) [Linda Fisher Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-fisher-thornton/) > [If you have a full understanding of what we’re up against and the leadership of your country doesn’t, well, hello. That’s life in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-have-a-full-understanding-of-what-we-re-up-against-and-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“You stay alive in the practice of leadership by reducing the extent to which you become the target of people’s frustrations. The best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/you-stay-alive-in-the-practice-of-leadership-by-reducing-the-extent/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [When you practice leadership,The evidence of quality of your leadership, Is known from the type of leaders that emerge out of your leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sujit-lalwani/when-you-practice-leadership-the-evidence-of-quality-of-your/) [Sujit Lalwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sujit-lalwani/) > [But to practice leadership, you need to accept that you are in the business of generating chaos, confusion, and conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/but-to-practice-leadership-you-need-to-accept-that-you-are-in-the/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [The one quality that can be developed by studious reflection and practice is the leadership of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-one-quality-that-can-be-developed-by-studious-reflection-and/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The practice of leadership is not the same as the exercise of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macgregor-burns/the-practice-of-leadership-is-not-the-same-as-the-exercise-of-power/) [James MacGregor Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macgregor-burns/) > [A talented executive would be somebody who knows how to surround themselves with a lot of people that will make him look good. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/a-talented-executive-would-be-somebody-who-knows-how-to-surround/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [What's crucial about being an executive producer is that you stay in the loop, information-wise. They have to share all their major decisions with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/what-s-crucial-about-being-an-executive-producer-is-that-you-stay-in/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [Well, executive producer can mean anything in the world of Hollywood, sadly. It can be a bought title in many instances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/well-executive-producer-can-mean-anything-in-the-world-of-hollywood/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [In most agencies, account executives outnumber the copywriters two to one. If you were a dairy farmer, would you employ twice as many milkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/in-most-agencies-account-executives-outnumber-the-copywriters-two-to/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“We believe that executives, like everyone else, see what is brought to their attention. The costs associated with IT are brought to their attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hunter/we-believe-that-executives-like-everyone-else-see-what-is-brought-to/) [Richard Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hunter/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. If the music industry wants to save money, they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/stop-trying-to-treat-music-like-it-s-a-tennis-shoe-something-to-be/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) ## More by Marshall Goldsmith > [Our inner beliefs trigger failure before it happens. They sabotage lasting change by canceling its possibility. We employ these beliefs as articles of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/our-inner-beliefs-trigger-failure-before-it-happens-they-sabotage/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [If the CEO is not going to give you a fair chance, you're probably not going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/if-the-ceo-is-not-going-to-give-you-a-fair-chance-you-re-probably-not/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Never confuse acquiring degrees with wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/never-confuse-acquiring-degrees-with-wisdom/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Change is not a one-way street- it involves two parties: the person who is changing and the people who notice it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/change-is-not-a-one-way-street-it-involves-two-parties-the-person-who/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/active-questions-are-the-alternative-to-passive-questions-there-is-a/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [We deify willpower and self-control - and mock its absence. People who achieve through remarkable willpower are 'strong' and 'heroic.' People who need help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-deify-willpower-and-self-control-and-mock-its-absence-people-who/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Those who lead by example and demonstrate passion for what they do make it much easier for their followers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/those-who-lead-by-example-and-demonstrate-passion-for-what-they-do/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/one-of-the-most-important-actions-things-a-leader-can-do-is-to-lead/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Almost everyone I meet is successful because of doing a lot of things right, and almost everyone I meet is successful in spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/almost-everyone-i-meet-is-successful-because-of-doing-a-lot-of-things/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [In our world, we have this huge focus on vicarious living - politicians, movie stars, athletes, coaches, all these people. What our research has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/in-our-world-we-have-this-huge-focus-on-vicarious-living-politicians/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [It's not appropriate to pass judgment when we specifically ask people to voice their opinions... even if you ask a question and agree with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/it-s-not-appropriate-to-pass-judgment-when-we-specifically-ask-people/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [The only thing I don't think people don't understand about good leaders is that they're both good and lucky. A lot of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-only-thing-i-don-t-think-people-don-t-understand-about-good/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [As I've gotten older, I've gotten simpler - my level of aspiration has actually gone down and down. But my level of impact has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-gotten-simpler-my-level-of-aspiration-has/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [The more we are committed to believing that something is true, the less likely we are to believe that its opposite is true, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-more-we-are-committed-to-believing-that-something-is-true-the/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [The people I coach are very successful people, so it's very hard for winners to not constantly win. Even if it's trivial and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-people-i-coach-are-very-successful-people-so-it-s-very-hard-for/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) [Explore all 96 Marshall Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) [Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The major challenge of most executives is not understanding the practice of leadership - it is practicing their understanding of leadership.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marshall Goldsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-is-not-understanding-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-is-not-understanding-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/marshall-goldsmith-6918_challenges_the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-i_3107505.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The major challenge of most executives is not understanding the practice of leadership - it is practicing…” — Marshall Goldsmith", "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": "Marshall Goldsmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The major challenge of most executives...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-is-not-understanding-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-major-challenge-of-most-executives-is-not-understanding-the/#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 } } ] } ```