John P. Kotter
John P. Kotter
billion billions million people
The world has 6 billion people and counting. We need to help 500 million people become better leaders so that billions can benefit.
change efforts failure large majority means people scale trying vast
The vast majority of large scale change efforts fail. Which means that the probability that you have actually experienced a failure, and your people know that and are pessimistic, therefore, about trying something again, is very high.
appearing attack awkward human less likely people seem speaker speaking
We worry about appearing awkward in a presentation. But up to a point, most people seem to feel more comfortable with less-than-perfect speaking abilities. It makes the speaker more human - and more vulnerable, meaning he is less likely to attack our decisions or beliefs.
people achievement levels
Valued achievements connect to people at a deeper level—and a deeper level can change behavior that is generally very difficult to change.
thinking people needs
I'm impatient. Typically people think they know all about change and don't need help. Their approach tends to be more management-oriented than leadership-oriented. It's very frustrating.
people accepting
Most people don't lead their own lives - they accept their lives
thinking people different
Leadership is different from management, but not for the reasons most people think.
people leader vision
People are more inclined to be drawn in if their leader has a compelling vision. Great leaders help people get in touch with their own aspirations and then will help them forge those aspirations into a personal vision.
views perfect people
Overcoming complacency is crucial at the start of any change process, and it often requires a little bit of surprise, something that grabs attention at more than an intellectual level. You need to surprise people with something that disturbs their view that everything is perfect.
thinking people feelings
People change what they do less because they are given an analysis that shifts their thinking than because they are shown a truth that influences their feelings.
communication data people
Good communication is not just data transfer. You need to show people something that addresses their anxieties, that accepts their anger, that is credible in a very gut-level sense, and that evokes faith in the vision.
giving people feelings
Changing behavior is less a matter of giving people analysis to influence their thoughts than helping them to see a truth to influence their feelings.
people inspire vision
Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles.
creating people empowering
Leadership is about setting a direction. It's about creating a vision, empowering and inspiring people to want to achieve the vision, and enabling them to do so with energy and speed through an effective strategy. In its most basic sense, leadership is about mobilizing a group of people to jump into a better future.