In the final analysis, change sticks when it becomes the way we do things around here.
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.
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.
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.
Good communication does not mean that you have to speak in perfectly formed sentences and paragraphs. It isn’t about slickness. Simple and clear go a long way.
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.
Without conviction that you can make change happen, you will not act, even if you see the vision. Your feelings will hold you back.
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.
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.
A leader needs enough understanding to fashion an intelligent strategy.
Outsiders have the intuitive ability to continually view problems in fresh ways and to identify ineffective practices and traditions.
Leadership is about coping with change.
Leadership is different from management, but not for the reasons most people think.
Most people don’t lead their own lives – they accept their lives.
Tradition is a very powerful force.
Never underestimate the power of a good story.
In an ever changing world, you never learn it all, even if you keep growing into your 90s.
Great vision communication usually means heartfelt messages are coming from real human beings.
Managers are trained to make incremental, programmatic improvements. They aren’t trained to lead large-scale change.
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.