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.
John P. KotterRead
Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.
Interpretation
Effective leaders must understand and leverage storytelling to succeed.
This quote highlights the importance of storytelling in leadership. John P. Kotter emphasizes that leaders who do not recognize the power of narratives in influencing others and driving engagement may ultimately lead their teams and organizations toward failure, as stories help convey vision, values, and inspire action among followers.
In practice
During a keynote speech at a leadership conference to emphasize the role of storytelling.
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.
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.
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.
I, like many of the other women who made history and dared to step up to lead since the 2018 midterms, know we must all play a role in the battle for who we are and who we must be.
Coaching is about helping young people have a chance _x000D_ to succeed. There is no more awesome responsibility _x000D_ than that. One of the greatest honors a person can have _x000D_ is being called 'Coach.'
It's easier to run for office than to run the office.
Should I become President...I will not risk American lives...by permitting any other nation to drag us into the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time through an unwise commitment that is unwise militarily, unnecessary to our security and unsupported by our allies.
Women in Washington - and in positions of power anywhere - should be subjected to the same criticisms and held to the same standards as men. That does not include the assumption that any successful woman has attained her position through flattery, feminine wiles, or her ability to provide maternal comfort to a more powerful man.
What job is worth the enormous psychic cost of following a leader who values loyalty in the narrowest sense.
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