--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaders learn by leading, and they learn…" description: "\"Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.\" — Warren G. Bennis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/warren-g-bennis-3361_faces_leaders-learn-by-leading-and-they-learn_494771.png" --- # Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in… ![“Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.” quote by Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/warren-g-bennis-3361_faces_leaders-learn-by-leading-and-they-learn_494771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/warren-g-bennis-3361_faces_leaders-learn-by-leading-and-they-learn_494771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/warren-g-bennis-3361_faces_leaders-learn-by-leading-and-they-learn_494771.png) > “Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.” [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. Challenges shape leaders like weather shapes mountains; leading through obstacles builds true leadership. **In simple terms:** Obstacles forge stronger leaders. Key Takeaway Lead through difficulty to grow. Themes leadership resilience growth challenge Mood motivational thoughtful Type quote leadership When to use this quote - business crises - personal setbacks - team conflicts - natural disasters Key Concepts adaptation problem solving character development Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles have defined your leadership style? - How can you turn a crisis into a growth opportunity? A Different Perspective Some obstacles are insurmountable; not all leaders thrive under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-learn-365413/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading/) [Leading Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-learn-3047966/) [Learn Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-leading-4225518/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Shape Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shape-leaders-4225519/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weather/) ## Related quotes > [All leaders are learners. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading. I learn as much as I can, from as many as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/all-leaders-are-learners-the-moment-you-stop-learning-you-stop/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Learn the leading precognita of all things-no need to turn over leaf by leaf, but grasp the trunk hard and you will shake all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/learn-the-leading-precognita-of-all-things-no-need-to-turn-over-leaf/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Few leaders are born. We learn to be leaders. We learn by working with other people and working through our philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/few-leaders-are-born-we-learn-to-be-leaders-we-learn-by-working-with/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [“Good leaders learn by doing, great leaders learn by listening   –  @cfdonahue”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/good-leaders-learn-by-doing-great-leaders-learn-by-listening-cfdonahue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As a leader, you will see things you may never like to see; yours is to correct those things so that next time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/as-a-leader-you-will-see-things-you-may-never-like-to-see-yours-is-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Improvements in global public health must begin locally, and must be driven by leaders who will learn the hard lessons from COVID-19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/improvements-in-global-public-health-must-begin-locally-and-must-be/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [But when will our leaders learn - war is not the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/but-when-will-our-leaders-learn-war-is-not-the-answer/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“I realized that the past failures had strengthened me, taught me that no one is immune from mistakes. True leaders must learn from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/i-realized-that-the-past-failures-had-strengthened-me-taught-me-that/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/successful-people-become-great-leaders-when-they-learn-to-shift-the/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Leaders learn to leverage the problems that never go away in a way to create progress for the organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/leaders-learn-to-leverage-the-problems-that-never-go-away-in-a-way-to/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [It's very scary to me that people actually think we should just follow our leaders. If we can't learn from our history, we're nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-maines/it-s-very-scary-to-me-that-people-actually-think-we-should-just/) [Natalie Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-maines/) > [Leaders must learn to discipline their disappointments. It's not what happens to us, it is what we choose to do about what happens that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/leaders-must-learn-to-discipline-their-disappointments-it-s-not-what/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“Just as the bird needs wings to fly, a leader needs useful information to flow. Leaders learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/just-as-the-bird-needs-wings-to-fly-a-leader-needs-useful-information/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“By 2003, I found myself in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that I was a one-star admiral leading troops in a war zone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/by-2003-i-found-myself-in-combat-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-now-that-i/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) ## More by Warren G. Bennis > [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/) > [Great groups deliver great results. And for everyone involved in a great group, great work is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/great-groups-deliver-great-results-and-for-everyone-involved-in-a/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is like beauty - it's hard to define but you know it when you see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/leadership-is-like-beauty-it-s-hard-to-define-but-you-know-it-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Coaching will become the model for leaders in the future... I am certain that leadership can be learned and that terrific coaches... facilitate learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/coaching-will-become-the-model-for-leaders-in-the-future-i-am-certain/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Servant leadership teaches us that you have to lay your cards on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/servant-leadership-teaches-us-that-you-have-to-lay-your-cards-on-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Recognize and respect mutual self-interests, then build creative collaborations to serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/recognize-and-respect-mutual-self-interests-then-build-creative/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If great teams don't have an "enemy," they create one for themselves because, as former Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta pointed out, "you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-great-teams-don-t-have-an-enemy-they-create-one-for-themselves/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [All great leaders constantly seek new information and new ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/all-great-leaders-constantly-seek-new-information-and-new-ways-of/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Trust is difficult to define, but we know when it's present and when it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/trust-is-difficult-to-define-but-we-know-when-it-s-present-and-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Around the world, the generals are being ousted, and the poets are taking charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/around-the-world-the-generals-are-being-ousted-and-the-poets-are/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The failure to find the right niche for people - or to let them find their own perfect niches - is a major reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-failure-to-find-the-right-niche-for-people-or-to-let-them-find/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Effective leaders make a full commitment to be a learner, to keep increasing and nourishing their knowledge and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/effective-leaders-make-a-full-commitment-to-be-a-learner-to-keep/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Encourage reflective backtalk: Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-reflective-backtalk-leaders-know-the-importance-of-having/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) [Explore all 132 Warren G. Bennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren G. 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