119 Quotes by John P. Kotter

Bureaucratic cultures can smother those who want to respond to shifting conditions.

Valued achievements connect to people at a deeper level – and a deeper level can change behavior that is generally very difficult to change.

A useful rule of thumb: Whenever you cannot describe the vision driving a change initiative in five minutes or less and get a reaction that signifies both understanding and interest, you are in for trouble. Error.

Most people don’t lead their own lives – they accept their lives.

Whenever smart and well-intentioned people avoid confronting obstacles, they disempower employees and undermine change.

Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.

Employees in large, older firms often have difficulty getting a transformation process started because of the lack of leadership coupled with arrogance, insularity, and bureaucracy.

Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group – a team – to be able to drive the change. One person, even a terrific charismatic leader, is never strong enough to make all this happen.

Great communicators have an appreciation for positioning. They understand the people they’re trying to reach and what they can and can’t hear. They send their message in through an open door rather than trying to push it through a wall.