Kotter Leadership Quotes & Sayings

Leadership is different from management, but not for the reasons most people think. — John P. Kotter

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. Kotter

Open your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than silence — Unknown

Great leaders motivate large groups of individuals to improve the human condition. — John P. Kotter

Leadership is about coping with change — John P. Kotter

Y-you, Marley Layton, are my favouritist big brother called Marley. The best, my very bestest one." George points her finger up at me as she speaks.
"I'm your only big brother called Marley."
"This true, this is vrery, vrery true," she slurs. — Lesley Jones

I'm fond of online testimonials: people writing about their experiences with ghosts or drugs or bad boyfriends. — Michael Dumontier

Your greatest job is shedding what you don't have to do. — Kevin Kelly

The value of work? Have I taught them self-reliance? Have I taught them to take care of each — Douglas Preston

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. — John P. Kotter

Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles. — John P. Kotter

We know that leadership is very much related to change. As the pace of change accelerates, there is naturally a greater need for effective leadership. — John P. Kotter

Great leadership does not mean running away from reality. Sometimes the hard truths might just demoralize the company, but at other times sharing difficulties can inspire people to take action that will make the situation better. — John P. Kotter

One of the most common ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about it beforehand. Communication of ideas helps people see the need for and the logic of a change. The education process can involve one-on-one discussions, presentations to groups, or memos and reports. — John P. Kotter

Leadership produces change. That is its primary function — John P. Kotter

Defending evil acts is also evil, All who commit this deed should know By defending evil you make yourself part of it You cause evilness to proliferate and grow — Ruchir Gupta

What is this life if full of care? We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs and stare as long as sheep or cows, no time to see, when woods we pass, where squirrels hide their nuts in grass, no time to see, in broad daylight, streams full of stars, like skies at night, no time to turn at Beauty's glance and watch her feet and how they can dance, no time to wait till her mouth can enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare. — W.H. Davies

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. — John P. Kotter

Effective leaders help others to understand the necessity of change and to accept a common vision of the desired outcome. — John P. Kotter

Most US corporations today are over-managed and under-led. They need to develop their capacity to exercise leadership. — John P. Kotter

Where there is no math, there is no freedom. — Edward Frenkel

Motivation and inspiration energize people, not by pushing them in the right direction as control mechanisms do but by satisfying basic human needs for achievement, a sense of belonging, recognition, self-esteem, a feeling of control over one's life, and the ability to live up to one's ideals. Such feelings touch us deeply and elicit a powerful response. — John P. Kotter