We are always creating new tools and techniques to help people, but the fundamental framework is remarkably resilient, which means it must have something to do with the nature of organizations or human nature.
John P. KotterRead
Great leaders understand that historical success tends to produce stable and inwardly focused organizations, and these outfits, in turn, reinforce a feeling of contentment with the status quo.
Interpretation
Great leaders recognize that past successes can lead organizations to become complacent and resistant to change.
In this quote, John P. Kotter emphasizes the importance of awareness in leadership. He points out that while historical success may create a sense of stability and satisfaction within an organization, it can also foster complacency and a reluctance to innovate or adapt. Effective leaders must remain vigilant and encourage a culture that questions the status quo, ensuring that their organization continues to evolve and thrive in a changing environment.
In practice
In a business meeting discussing future strategies.
We are always creating new tools and techniques to help people, but the fundamental framework is remarkably resilient, which means it must have something to do with the nature of organizations or human nature.
Managers are trained to make incremental, programmatic improvements. They aren't trained to lead large-scale change.
Because management deals mostly with the status quo and leadership deals mostly with change, in the next century we are going to have to try to become much more skilled at creating leaders.
Outsiders have the intuitive ability to continually view problems in fresh ways and to identify ineffective practices and traditions.
Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.
Many years ago, I think I got my first insight on how an incredibly diverse team can work together and do astonishing things, and not just misunderstand each other and fight.
The people have given me their support; they have given me their trust and confidence. My colleagues have suffered a lot in order to give me support. I do not look upon my life as a sacrifice at all.
We love those who can lead us to a place we will never reach without them.
A leader has to show the face his team needs to see.
The true leader - the genuine world-builder - lives to the point. Acutely concentrated on the few high priorities that will deliver the life of their greatest aspirations. At the end.
Not even the King himself has the right to subordinate the interests of his country to his own feelings of love or hatred towards strangers; he is, however, responsible towards God and not to me if he does so, and therefore on this point I am silent.
When the decision is up before you-and on my desk I have a motto which says "The buck stops here"-the decision has to be made.
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