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
Leadership produces change. That is its primary function
Interpretation
Leadership is fundamentally about facilitating progress and transformation.
This quote by John P. Kotter emphasizes that the core role of leadership is to drive change within an organization or community. Effective leaders not only envision what needs to be transformed but also inspire and mobilize their followers to embrace and enact that change, ultimately resulting in growth and advancement.
In practice
During a conference on business strategy, one might say, 'As John P. Kotter states, leadership produces change; we need to embrace new practices to adapt to market demands.'
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.
Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.
Make your employer feel truthfully that you are sincere with him; that you are going to promote his interest; that you are going to stand for the things which he represents; that you are proud of being a member of his staff, and there is nothing that will reap you a richer reward. Loyalty above all!
A president has an inescapable responsibility to provide direction: What are we trying to achieve? What are we trying to prevent? Why? To do that, he has to both analyze and reflect.
Heaven has appointed me to rule all the nations, for hitherto there has been no order upon the steppes.
For women to achieve equal representation in leadership roles, it's important that they have the backing of men as well as women.
Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.
Leaders learn by leading, and they learn bestby leading in the face of obstacles. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.
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