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
Over the years I have become convinced that we learn best - and change - from hearing stories that strike a chord within us ... 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
Stories are powerful tools for teaching and inspiring change, especially in leadership.
In this quote, John P. Kotter emphasizes the importance of storytelling in the process of learning and transformation. He argues that effective leaders harness the narrative to connect with their audience, as stories resonate on a personal level and can drive significant change within organizations. Leaders who overlook the influence of storytelling may jeopardize their success and that of their companies.
Themes
LeadershipStoriesChangeLearningInspiration
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting to motivate employees, one might say, 'As John P. Kotter points out, we learn best through stories, which is why I want to share a success story from our last project.'
More from John P. Kotter
All quotes →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
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
Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.
John P. KotterRead
Similar quotes
An employee who's one of hundreds, rather than one of a few, is unlikely to feel personally responsible for helping the organization adapt and change.
Gary HamelRead
I don't need a successor, only willing hands to accept the torch for a new generation.
Billy GrahamRead
The leaders of the future will be those who dare to claim their irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation.
Henri NouwenRead
You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen.
Ban Ki-MoonRead
Most leadership strategies are doomed to failure from the outset.
Peter SengeRead
The fact is, employees cannot make breakthroughs if they can't openly and honestly disagree with their peers and their leader. Indeed, great leaders don't just permit conflict; they actively try to elicit it from reluctant employees as well.
Patrick LencioniRead