The following is a short book preview contributed by the Ohio State University Leadership Center.

From: Kotter, J. (2008). A sense of urgency. Boston: Harvard Business Press.

For centuries we have had the expression in English, “Great leaders win over the hearts and minds of others.” The expression is not, “Great leaders win over the minds of others.” More interesting yet, the expression is not that great leaders win the minds and hearts of others. Heart comes first.

History is filled with examples that support this conclusion. Martin Luther King Jr. did not reduce anger among blacks and contentment or anxiety among whites by announcing on the Washington Mall, “I have a strategic plan.” King’s speech pounded away at people’s gut-level feelings with poetic rhetoric and passionate words about justice and morality. He hit hearts in a way that converted anger and anxiety into a commitment to move, do the right thing, and now (Kotter, p. 45-46).

A Sense of Urgency is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center. To borrow this resource or any other resource, please go to the resource search page.

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