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
Managers are trained to make incremental, programmatic improvements. They aren't trained to lead large-scale change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the difference between management and leadership, highlighting that managers often focus on small, systematic changes rather than driving significant transformations.
John P. Kotter's quote points out a critical distinction in organizational dynamics: while managers are skilled in overseeing day-to-day operations and making gradual improvements, they often lack the training or ability to initiate and lead substantial changes that are necessary for evolution and progress within an organization. This suggests that effective leadership requires a different set of skills that goes beyond traditional management practices.
Themes
ManagementLeadershipChangeIncrementalTransformation
In practice
Example use cases
In a business seminar discussing the importance of leadership in times of change.
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Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.
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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.
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