--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Exercising leadership is an expression of…" description: "\"Exercising leadership is an expression of your aliveness... But when you cover yourself up, you risk losing something as well. In the struggle to save ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_alive_exercising-leadership-is-an-expression-o_67907.png" --- # Exercising leadership is an expression of your… ![“Exercising leadership is an expression of your aliveness... But when you cover yourself up, you risk losing something as well. In the struggle to save yourself, you can give up too many of those qualities that are the essence of being alive, like innocence, curiosity, and compassion.” quote by Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_alive_exercising-leadership-is-an-expression-o_67907.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_alive_exercising-leadership-is-an-expression-o_67907.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_alive_exercising-leadership-is-an-expression-o_67907.png) > “Exercising leadership is an expression of your aliveness... But when you cover yourself up, you risk losing something as well. In the struggle to save yourself, you can give up too many of those qualities that are the essence of being alive, like innocence, curiosity, and compassion.” [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership requires authentic presence; hiding behind defenses erodes core human qualities such as innocence, curiosity, and compassion. **In simple terms:** Authentic leadership preserves vitality. Key Takeaway Guard against self‑protection that dulls humanity. Themes authenticity vulnerability humanity leadership self‑awareness Mood reflective inspired cautious Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team crises - personal development retreats - organizational change initiatives Key Concepts aliveness defensiveness inner growth Practical Applications - leadership training - mentor‑mentee dialogues Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑protection limit your impact? - What practices keep your curiosity alive in leadership? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Aliveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliveness/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Exercising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercising/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Save yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-yourself/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/giving-is-more-joyous-than-receiving-not-because-it-is-a-deprivation/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [In the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/in-the-act-of-giving-lies-the-expression-of-my-aliveness/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“There is an interplay between great leadership, events, trends, the organization, the people in it, the market 'out there' that goes far beyond one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dourado/there-is-an-interplay-between-great-leadership-events-trends-the/) [Phil Dourado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dourado/) > [“To survive and succeed in exercising leadership, you must work as closely with your opponents as you do with your supporters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-linsky/to-survive-and-succeed-in-exercising-leadership-you-must-work-as/) [Martin Linsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-linsky/) > [“When exercising leadership, you risk getting marginalized, diverted, attacked, or seduced. Regardless of the form, however, the point is the same. When people resist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-linsky/when-exercising-leadership-you-risk-getting-marginalized-diverted/) [Martin Linsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-linsky/) > [“being criticized by people you care about is almost always a part of exercising leadership.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-linsky/being-criticized-by-people-you-care-about-is-almost-always-a-part-of/) [Martin Linsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-linsky/) > [You will leave this course being a leader and exercising leadership effectively as your natural self-expression in any situation and no matter what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-erhard/you-will-leave-this-course-being-a-leader-and-exercising-leadership/) [Werner Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-erhard/) > […find freedom, aliveness, and power not from what contains, locates, or protects us, but from what dissolves, reveals, and expands us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/find-freedom-aliveness-and-power-not-from-what-contains-locates-or/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [The peace that comes with surrendered action turns to a sense of aliveness when you actually enjoy what you are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-peace-that-comes-with-surrendered-action-turns-to-a-sense-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Escape is a process, not a pill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/escape-is-a-process-not-a-pill/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [“That we find freedom, aliveness and power not from what contains, locates, or protects us but from what dissolves, reveals and expands us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/that-we-find-freedom-aliveness-and-power-not-from-what-contains/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“The enchantment of being here at all, alive and aware, is a gift too often considered a problem. Simply feeling the aliveness—the unique suchness—of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-saltzman/the-enchantment-of-being-here-at-all-alive-and-aware-is-a-gift-too/) Robert Saltzman > [I am sure everyone has had the experience of reading a book and finding it vibrating with aliveness, with colour and immediacy. And then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-am-sure-everyone-has-had-the-experience-of-reading-a-book-and/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“this feeling of alive is not so easy to experience. Even although life is a thing that seems to have some kind of weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/this-feeling-of-alive-is-not-so-easy-to-experience-even-although-life/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [Somehow, when we no longer feel in control, we become available to deeper aliveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-moss/somehow-when-we-no-longer-feel-in-control-we-become-available-to/) [Richard Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-moss/) ## More by Ronald A. Heifetz > [And leadership then is about mobilizing and engaging the people with the problem rather than trying to anesthetize them so you can go off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/and-leadership-then-is-about-mobilizing-and-engaging-the-people-with/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“The person who has a disproportionate need for control, who is too hungry for power, is susceptible to losing sight of the work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/the-person-who-has-a-disproportionate-need-for-control-who-is-too/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“When you need someone to talk to in difficult times, it’s tempting to try to turn a trusted ally into a confidant as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/when-you-need-someone-to-talk-to-in-difficult-times-it-s-tempting-to/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [I think that notion of leadership is bankrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/i-think-that-notion-of-leadership-is-bankrupt/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [Attention is the currency of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/attention-is-the-currency-of-leadership/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“What happened has hurt us. Now you have to work this out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/what-happened-has-hurt-us-now-you-have-to-work-this-out/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [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/) > [“When you lead people through difficult change, you take them on an emotional roller coaster because you are asking them to relinquish something—a belief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/when-you-lead-people-through-difficult-change-you-take-them-on-an/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“You know best who you really are by watching what you do rather than listening to what you say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/you-know-best-who-you-really-are-by-watching-what-you-do-rather-than/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [Progress on problems is the measure of leadership; leaders mobilize people to face problems, and communities make progress on problems because leaders challenge them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/progress-on-problems-is-the-measure-of-leadership-leaders-mobilize/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“Win-win solutions are ideal but not common with strategic choices. When we hear someone talk "win-wins," we wonder if anything really lasting is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/win-win-solutions-are-ideal-but-not-common-with-strategic-choices/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“In the heat of leadership, with the adrenaline pumping, it is easy to convince yourself that you are not subject to the normal human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/in-the-heat-of-leadership-with-the-adrenaline-pumping-it-is-easy-to/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [Values are shaped and refined by rubbing against real problems, and people interpret their problems according to the values they hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/values-are-shaped-and-refined-by-rubbing-against-real-problems-and/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“Mental health professionals have said for a long time that individuals cannot adapt well to too many life changes at once. If you suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/mental-health-professionals-have-said-for-a-long-time-that/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [Conflict is the primary engine of creativity and innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/conflict-is-the-primary-engine-of-creativity-and-innovation/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) [Explore all 25 Ronald A. Heifetz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Exercising leadership is an expression of your aliveness... But when you cover yourself up, you risk losing something as well. In the struggle to save yourself, you can give up too many of those qualities that are the essence of being alive, like innocence, curiosity, and compassion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald A. 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