--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that notion of leadership is…" description: "\"I think that notion of leadership is bankrupt.\" — Ronald A. Heifetz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_bankrupt_i-think-that-notion-of-leadership-is-ban_1042017.png" --- # I think that notion of leadership is bankrupt. ![“I think that notion of leadership is bankrupt.” quote by Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_bankrupt_i-think-that-notion-of-leadership-is-ban_1042017.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_bankrupt_i-think-that-notion-of-leadership-is-ban_1042017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ronald-a-heifetz-23775_bankrupt_i-think-that-notion-of-leadership-is-ban_1042017.png) > “I think that notion of leadership is bankrupt.” [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 that lacks integrity or purpose fails to inspire and sustain followers. **In simple terms:** Bad leadership is worthless. Key Takeaway Demand ethical, purpose‑driven leadership. Themes leadership integrity purpose Mood critical reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - corporate management - nonprofit teams - political movements - community projects Key Concepts ethical leadership organizational health Questions to Reflect On - How can you model integrity when the system rewards compromise? - What values must you protect at personal cost? A Different Perspective Even ethical leaders can be limited by systemic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bankrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankrupt/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Bankrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-bankrupt-2441461/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Notion Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion-leadership-2441462/) [Think Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-notion-2441463/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [What it missing, I think, is this notion of the common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-george/what-it-missing-i-think-is-this-notion-of-the-common-good/) [Susan George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-george/) > [I think that the notion of being creative is the notion that, inwardly, you assume that many things are possible. And that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/i-think-that-the-notion-of-being-creative-is-the-notion-that-inwardly/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [Exercising leadership is an expression of your aliveness... But when you cover yourself up, you risk losing something as well. In the struggle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/exercising-leadership-is-an-expression-of-your-aliveness-but-when-you/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [“Why is this such a well-kept secret? The core issue is that we don't believe we're still spiritually "bankrupt." Having come into God's kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/why-is-this-such-a-well-kept-secret-the-core-issue-is-that-we-don-t/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Let us not bankrupt our todays by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-sockman-2/let-us-not-bankrupt-our-todays-by-paying-interest-on-the-regrets-of/) [Ralph W. Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-sockman-2/) > [There is an old saying, "How did you go bankrupt?" And the answer is, "Gradually, and then suddenly." The impending fiscal crisis in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/there-is-an-old-saying-how-did-you-go-bankrupt-and-the-answer-is/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [Every city and town in America would be bankrupt if they kept their books the way private-sector companies keep their books - because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/every-city-and-town-in-america-would-be-bankrupt-if-they-kept-their/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [ Not every company went bankrupt. Not every bank needed TARP \[Troubled Asset Relief Program\]. So I'm very proud that JPMorgan, throughout that time period,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/not-every-company-went-bankrupt-not-every-bank-needed-tarp-troubled/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Its bad when men have money for cars, rims , shoes and etc. But when it comes to feeding their child or supporting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kale-bell/its-bad-when-men-have-money-for-cars-rims-shoes-and-etc-but-when-it/) [Kale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kale-bell/) > [I've developed a lot of reform proposals myself and been accused of trying to destroy Social Security, when the whole point was to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/i-ve-developed-a-lot-of-reform-proposals-myself-and-been-accused-of/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [I have never gone bankrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-never-gone-bankrupt/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The worst bankrupt in the world is the man who has lost his enthusiasm. Let a man lose everything else in the world, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-arnold/the-worst-bankrupt-in-the-world-is-the-man-who-has-lost-his/) [William Howard Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-arnold/) > [Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/sarcasm-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-imaginatively-bankrupt/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“The single best predictor that a family would go bankrupt was if they had a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/the-single-best-predictor-that-a-family-would-go-bankrupt-was-if-they/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [“Forcing new loans upon the bankrupt on condition that they shrink their income is nothing short of cruel and unusual punishment. Greece was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/forcing-new-loans-upon-the-bankrupt-on-condition-that-they-shrink/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) ## More by Ronald A. Heifetz > [Exercising leadership is an expression of your aliveness... But when you cover yourself up, you risk losing something as well. In the struggle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/exercising-leadership-is-an-expression-of-your-aliveness-but-when-you/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [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 Bankrupt quotes > [“Forcing new loans upon the bankrupt on condition that they shrink their income is nothing short of cruel and unusual punishment. Greece was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/forcing-new-loans-upon-the-bankrupt-on-condition-that-they-shrink/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [“The single best predictor that a family would go bankrupt was if they had a child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/the-single-best-predictor-that-a-family-would-go-bankrupt-was-if-they/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/sarcasm-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-imaginatively-bankrupt/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The worst bankrupt in the world is the man who has lost his enthusiasm. Let a man lose everything else in the world, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-arnold/the-worst-bankrupt-in-the-world-is-the-man-who-has-lost-his/) [William Howard Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-arnold/) > [I have never gone bankrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-never-gone-bankrupt/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I've developed a lot of reform proposals myself and been accused of trying to destroy Social Security, when the whole point was to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/i-ve-developed-a-lot-of-reform-proposals-myself-and-been-accused-of/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [Its bad when men have money for cars, rims , shoes and etc. But when it comes to feeding their child or supporting their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kale-bell/its-bad-when-men-have-money-for-cars-rims-shoes-and-etc-but-when-it/) [Kale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kale-bell/) > [ Not every company went bankrupt. Not every bank needed TARP \[Troubled Asset Relief Program\]. So I'm very proud that JPMorgan, throughout that time period,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/not-every-company-went-bankrupt-not-every-bank-needed-tarp-troubled/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Every city and town in America would be bankrupt if they kept their books the way private-sector companies keep their books - because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/every-city-and-town-in-america-would-be-bankrupt-if-they-kept-their/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [There is an old saying, "How did you go bankrupt?" And the answer is, "Gradually, and then suddenly." The impending fiscal crisis in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/there-is-an-old-saying-how-did-you-go-bankrupt-and-the-answer-is/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [Let us not bankrupt our todays by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-sockman-2/let-us-not-bankrupt-our-todays-by-paying-interest-on-the-regrets-of/) [Ralph W. Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-sockman-2/) > [“Why is this such a well-kept secret? The core issue is that we don't believe we're still spiritually "bankrupt." Having come into God's kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/why-is-this-such-a-well-kept-secret-the-core-issue-is-that-we-don-t/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [I was spiritually bankrupt, and when that happens, it's like a spiritual cancer afflicts you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/i-was-spiritually-bankrupt-and-when-that-happens-it-s-like-a/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“I’m bankrupt without love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/i-m-bankrupt-without-love/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) [Browse all 144 Bankrupt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankrupt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that notion of leadership is bankrupt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald A. 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