--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Encourage dissent: Leaders should have…" description: "\"Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have contrary views, who are devil's advocates, \"variance sensors\" who can tell them the differen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/warren-g-bennis-3361_associates_encourage-dissent-leaders-should-have-as_1097159.jpg" --- # Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have… ![“Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have contrary views, who are devil's advocates, "variance sensors" who can tell them the difference between what is expected and what is really happening, between what they want to hear and what they need to hear. There are too many naked…” quote by Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/warren-g-bennis-3361_associates_encourage-dissent-leaders-should-have-as_1097159.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/warren-g-bennis-3361_associates_encourage-dissent-leaders-should-have-as_1097159.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/warren-g-bennis-3361_associates_encourage-dissent-leaders-should-have-as_1097159.jpg) > “Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have contrary views, who are devil's advocates, "variance sensors" who can tell them the difference between what is expected and what is really happening, between what they want to hear and what they need to hear. There are too many naked emperors running around today.” [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders need dissenting voices to expose blind spots, prevent echo chambers, and ensure reality‑based decisions. **In simple terms:** Encourage dissent for better decisions. Key Takeaway Seek contrary opinions regularly. Themes leadership decision‑making critical thinking Mood strategic thought‑provoking Type leadership organizational When to use this quote - board meetings - product design - policy drafting - crisis management Key Concepts devil’s advocate variance sensors cognitive diversity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance dissent with decisive action? - Who can serve as your reliable “variance sensor”? A Different Perspective Too many dissenters can stall action if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Associates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates/) [Associates Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates-contrary-2866911/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Contrary Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary-views-502471/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Devil 's advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-s-advocate/) [Devil's Advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devils-advocate/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/) [Dissent Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent-leaders-2866910/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Encourage Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage-dissent-2866909/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Happenings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happenings/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sensors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensors/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Variance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variance/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [That's one of those hazards of an interview: You get tired of your stock answer and you try to get creative and even play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-martsch/that-s-one-of-those-hazards-of-an-interview-you-get-tired-of-your/) [Doug Martsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-martsch/) > [If opponents of all important truths do not exist, it is indispensable to imagine them and supply them with the strongest arguments which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/if-opponents-of-all-important-truths-do-not-exist-it-is-indispensable/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Never play the Devil's Advocate. 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White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [I hope you're representing the devil's advocate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-olson/i-hope-you-re-representing-the-devil-s-advocate/) [Charles Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-olson/) > [John Kerry doesn't think in terms of black-and-white. He's all gray, and he looks at all sides of the issues. That makes people think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/john-kerry-doesn-t-think-in-terms-of-black-and-white-he-s-all-gray/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [ This does not mean that the profession is about to abandon Darwin forever or indorse \[sic\] my views publicly. The situation remains much as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-macbeth/this-does-not-mean-that-the-profession-is-about-to-abandon-darwin/) [Norman Macbeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-macbeth/) > [I hate people who say 'Just to play devil's advocate.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/i-hate-people-who-say-just-to-play-devil-s-advocate/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [If you give people an idea these days, they just think you are sharing it with them so they can critique it, play devil's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esm-raji-codell/if-you-give-people-an-idea-these-days-they-just-think-you-are-sharing/) [Esme Raji Codell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esm-raji-codell/) > [People have confused playing devil's advocate with being intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-strong/people-have-confused-playing-devil-s-advocate-with-being-intelligent/) [Cecily Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-strong/) > [Whenever you feel like feeling like a devil's advocate, Bible-thump. That, in a worldly world, is the great irony and satire of evangelism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/whenever-you-feel-like-feeling-like-a-devil-s-advocate-bible-thump/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“Actively encourage dissent and original thinking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/businessnews-publishing/actively-encourage-dissent-and-original-thinking/) [BusinessNews Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/businessnews-publishing/) > [The great thing about the public is that they're quite capable of believing two absolutely contrary views at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/the-great-thing-about-the-public-is-that-they-re-quite-capable-of/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [You will find it easier to accept contrary views, knowing that you are not defined by anything or anyone external to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/you-will-find-it-easier-to-accept-contrary-views-knowing-that-you-are/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) ## More by Warren G. 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