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Margaret J. Wheatley Quotes

Writer

Margaret J. Wheatley is a renowned writer known for her work on organizational development and leadership. Born on August 17, 1944, her writings are celebrated for their deep insights into complexity and change.

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All People Needs Ifs Organization Leadership Process Thinking Way World Aggression Capacity Leader Order Together Humans Ideas Listening Moving Roles Believe

Famous Margaret J. Wheatley Quotes

“As we let go of the machine model of work, we begin to step back and see ourselves in new ways, to appreciate wholeness, and to design organizations that honor and make use of the totality of who we are.”

Way Use Steps Design Honor Letting Go Models Appreciate Machines Organization Who We Are New Ways Wholeness Totality

Book:Leadership and the new science: learning about organization from an orderly universe

Source: Leadership and the new science: learning about organization from an orderly universe

“One of the great errors organizations make is shutting down what is a natural, life-enhancing process-chaos. We are terrified of chaos. As a manager, it signals failure. But if you move out of control and into an appreciation of natural order, you understand that the only way a system changes is when it is far from equilibrium, when it moves from the 'quiet' we treasure and is confronted with the choice to die or reorganize. And you can't reorganize to a higher level unless you risk the perils of the path through chaos.”

“In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and positions.”

Important Real Form Motivation Energy Leadership Leader Roles Position Capacity Tasks Organization Function Patterns Being A Leader Real Power Future Leaders Leadership Roles

Author:Margaret J. Wheatley

“The things we fear most in organizations - fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances - are the primary sources of creativity.”

“Aggression is the most common behavior used by many organizations, a nearly invisible medium that influences all decisions and actions.”

Reality Action Used Decision Common Influence Behavior Organization Invisible Mediums Aggression

Author:Margaret J. Wheatley

“I believe that the capacity that any organization needs is for leadership to appear anywhere it is needed, when it is needed.”

Needs Believe I Believe Leadership Needed Capacity Organization

Author:Margaret J. Wheatley

“Even though worker capacity and motivation are destroyed when leaders choose power over productivity, it appears that bosses would rather be in control than have the organization work well.”

Wells Motivation Leader Capacity Organization Workers Productivity Destroyed Boss

Author:Margaret J. Wheatley

“Organizations 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.”

Two Change Source Type Organization Traditional

Book:Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Large Print 16pt)

Source: Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Large Print 16pt)

“We have created trouble for ourselves in organizations by confusing control with order.”

Order Trouble Organization Organized Confusing

Book:Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World

Source: Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World

“In virtually every organization, regardless of mission and function, people are frustrated by problems that seem unsolvable.”

People Problem Seems Organization Function Missions Frustrated

Book:Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Large Print 16pt)

Source: Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Large Print 16pt)

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

Successful Risk Military Higher Commitment Organization Including Engagement Military Intelligence Successful Organizations

Author:Margaret J. Wheatley

“For me, this is a familiar image - people in the organization ready and willing to do good work, wanting to contribute their ideas, ready to take responsibility, and leaders holding them back, insisting that they wait for decisions or instructions”

People Ideas Waiting Decision Responsibility Leader Willing Ready Organization Familiar Instruction Good Work Taking Responsibility Brilliant Ideas Insisting

Book:Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Large Print 16pt)

Source: Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time (Large Print 16pt)

“Power in organizations is the capacity generated by relationships. It is an energy that comes into existence through relationships.”

Energy Existence Conflict Capacity Organization Workplace Workplace Conflict

Book:Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World

Source: Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World