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To 'turn around' is to end up facing the same way. Maybe that is the problem, all the turning organizations around.
Henry Mintzberg
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Organizations that frequently change direction may not truly progress and could face persistent issues.

Henry Mintzberg's quote suggests that constantly changing the direction of an organization, or 'turning around,' can hinder genuine progress and lead to a cycle of repeating the same mistakes. The implication is that leadership should focus on consistent vision rather than frequent shifts in strategy, which can leave organizations effectively facing the same challenges over and over again.

Themes

LeadershipChangeOrganizationDirectionStrategy

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a leadership seminar to emphasize the importance of stable strategic direction.

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