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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
LeadershipStorytellingCommunicationSuccessInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
During a keynote speech at a leadership conference to emphasize the role of storytelling.
More from John P. Kotter
All quotes βWe 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
Managers are trained to make incremental, programmatic improvements. They aren't trained to lead large-scale change.
John P. KotterRead
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.
John P. KotterRead
Outsiders have the intuitive ability to continually view problems in fresh ways and to identify ineffective practices and traditions.
John P. KotterRead
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.
John P. KotterRead
Similar quotes
The First Lady is an unpaid public servant elected by one person - her husband.
Lady Bird JohnsonRead
Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.
Colin PowellRead
You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership.
Grace HopperRead
When pressure mounts and strain increases everyone begins to show the weaknesses in his makeup. It is up to the Commander to conceal his: above all to conceal doubt, fear, and distrust.
Dwight D. EisenhowerRead
There are a lot of self-imposed restrictions by people who somehow believe they have to fall in with a certain military cant. There was always a sense that we had to put things into words that would touch our troops' hearts, not just their heads.
Jim MattisRead
Before she was a King, my mother was a peace advocate, a courageous leader, and an accomplished artist.
Bernice KingRead