Margaret J. Wheatley Quotes

• Thinking is the place where intelligent actions begin. We pause long enough to look more carefully at a situation, to see more of its character, to think about why it’s happening, to notice how it’s affecting us and others.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Character, Think

• I think we have to notice that the business processes we use right now for thinking and planning and budgeting and strategy are all delivered on very tight agendas.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Think

• We know from science that nothing in the universe exists as an isolated or independent entity.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Interdependence, School

• Organisations are now confronted with two sources of change: the traditional type that is initiated and managed; and external changes over which no one has control.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Change

• I’m sad to report that in the past few years, ever since uncertainty became our insistent 21st century companion, leadership has taken a great leap backwards to the familiar territory of command and control.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Great

• In the past, it was easier to believe in my own effectiveness. If I worked hard, with good colleagues and good ideas, we could make a difference. But now, I sincerely doubt that.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Work

  Tags in Good

• Aggression only moves in one direction – it creates more aggression.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Direction

• I’ve wanted to see beyond the Western, mechanical view of the world and see what else might appear when the lens was changed.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in World

• Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Risk

• I think a major act of leadership right now, call it a radical act, is to create the places and processes so people can actually learn together, using our experiences.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Leadership

• Most people associate command and control leadership with the military.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Leadership

• In these troubled, uncertain times, we don’t need more command and control; we need better means to engage everyone’s intelligence in solving challenges and crises as they arise.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Intelligence

• Successful organizations, including the Military, have learned that the higher the risk, the more necessary it is to engage everyone’s commitment and intelligence.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Commitment

• Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

• When we can lay down our fear and anger and choose responses other than aggression, we create the conditions for bringing out the best in us humans.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

• Whatever life we have experienced, if we can tell our story to someone who listens, we find it easier to deal with our circumstances.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Life

• We do as much harm holding onto programs and people past their natural life span as we do when we employ massive organizational air strikes. However, destroying comes at the end of life’s cycle, not as a first response.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Life

• These days, our senses are bombarded with aggression. We are constantly confronted with global images of unending, escalating war and violence.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

• The nature of the global business environment guarantees that no matter how hard we work to create a stable and healthy organisation, our organisation will continue to experience dramatic changes far beyond our control.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Topics in Business, Work

• Our willingness to acknowledge that we only see half the picture creates the conditions that make us more attractive to others. The more sincerely we acknowledge our need for their different insights and perspectives, the more they will be magnetized to join us.

  Margaret J. Wheatley

  Tags in Acknowledged

Margaret J. Wheatley (50)

Nationality:	American
Profession:	Writer, Consultant

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Today's Anniversary - 23rd November

Births

• 1955 - Mary Landrieu
• 1949 - Tom Joyner
• 1955 - Steven Brust
• 1987 - Nicole Polizzi
• 1887 - William Henry Pratt

Deaths

• 1991 - Klaus Kinski
• 1990 - Roald Dahl
• 1995 - Louis Malle
• 1821 - Sir James Mansfield
• 1973 - Sessue Hayakawa