--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are committed to the change…" description: "\"If you are committed to the change, you're going to have to sideline the skeptics, or at least keep them under control. There may be a temptation to mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg" --- # If you are committed to the change, you're going to have… ![“If you are committed to the change, you're going to have to sideline the skeptics, or at least keep them under control. There may be a temptation to move them out but skeptics have a value - flagging weaknesses in the plan. Ideally, you will enlist their critical stance by challenging them to find…” quote by Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg) > “If you are committed to the change, you're going to have to sideline the skeptics, or at least keep them under control. There may be a temptation to move them out but skeptics have a value - flagging weaknesses in the plan. Ideally, you will enlist their critical stance by challenging them to find ways to improve the plan as you go forward.” [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skeptics can expose flaws; involve them constructively rather than dismissing them. **In simple terms:** Use criticism to improve plans. Key Takeaway Invite critical feedback early. Themes leadership critical thinking collaboration Mood analytical pragmatic Type advice instructional When to use this quote - project planning - product development - policy drafting - team meetings Key Concepts risk management decision making Questions to Reflect On - How can I turn doubt into useful input? - When should I limit skeptical input? A Different Perspective Too much skepticism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Committed Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed-change-1080523/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Sideline Skeptics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sideline-skeptics-4340310/) [Skeptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptic/) [Skeptics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptics/) [Skeptics Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptics-control-4340308/) [Skeptics Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptics-value-4340309/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Your sweet spot is in between the true believers and the scoffing skeptics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/your-sweet-spot-is-in-between-the-true-believers-and-the-scoffing/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [There are always going to be skeptics. Prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/there-are-always-going-to-be-skeptics-prove-them-wrong/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/in-principle-skeptics-are-neither-closed-minded-nor-cynical-we-are/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [It is the spectators, the people who are outside, looking at the tragedy, from whose ranks the skeptics come; it is not those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/it-is-the-spectators-the-people-who-are-outside-looking-at-the/) [James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/) > [ \[Science\] has challenged the super-eminence of religion; it has turned all philosophy out of doors except that which clings to its skirts; it has… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/science-has-challenged-the-super-eminence-of-religion-it-has-turned/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [I urge the media to start referring to climate skeptics as what they really are: climate assholes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-urge-the-media-to-start-referring-to-climate-skeptics-as-what-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Skeptics squat by the road like guardians of truth, letting no one pass who doesn't come up to scratch. They never realize that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/skeptics-squat-by-the-road-like-guardians-of-truth-letting-no-one/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The problem of evil is raised more often by spectators of life than the actual combatants. You will hardly ever find that the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/the-problem-of-evil-is-raised-more-often-by-spectators-of-life-than/) [James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/) > [I am the skeptic of skeptics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/i-am-the-skeptic-of-skeptics/) [Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters. I don't mean to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a-2/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The skeptics who say it can't be done are simply in extremely limited states of mind. They can't even perceive the possibility of anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-skeptics-who-say-it-can-t-be-done-are-simply-in-extremely-limited/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“I'm a Skeptic. And I'm a Journalist. I look up things in the library—a lot! I believe in the motto of Missouri, the 'Show-me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-lee/i-m-a-skeptic-and-i-m-a-journalist-i-look-up-things-in-the-library-a/) [Earl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-lee/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [“Skeptics are always marked by their total lack of skepticism towards whatever position they are defending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madison/skeptics-are-always-marked-by-their-total-lack-of-skepticism-towards/) [Steve Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-madison/) > [Belief in God and a future life makes it possible to go through life with less of stoic courage than is needed by skeptics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/belief-in-god-and-a-future-life-makes-it-possible-to-go-through-life/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Gary A. Klein > [There needs to be a certain structure to a situation, a certain predictability that allows you to have a basis for the intuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/there-needs-to-be-a-certain-structure-to-a-situation-a-certain/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [People sometimes are so confident in their flawed beliefs that they get stuck - fixated - and as a result are blinded to insights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/people-sometimes-are-so-confident-in-their-flawed-beliefs-that-they/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [By the time executives get to high levels, they are good at making others feel confident in their judgment, even if there's no strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/by-the-time-executives-get-to-high-levels-they-are-good-at-making/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [I worry about leaders in complex situations who don't have enough experience, who are just going with their intuition and not monitoring it, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/i-worry-about-leaders-in-complex-situations-who-don-t-have-enough/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [Most corporate decisions aren't going to meet the test of high validity. But they're going to be way above the low-validity situations that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/most-corporate-decisions-aren-t-going-to-meet-the-test-of-high/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [It is instructive to see how organizations pursue their goal of reducing errors and uncertainty. They impose standards, employ checklists, demand that knowledge workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/it-is-instructive-to-see-how-organizations-pursue-their-goal-of/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [You need to take your gut feeling as an important data point, but then you have to consciously and deliberately evaluate it, to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/you-need-to-take-your-gut-feeling-as-an-important-data-point-but-then/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [People who design decision aids and information technologies usually try to help people perform their jobs better. But insights can show us how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/people-who-design-decision-aids-and-information-technologies-usually/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [Intuition is when we use our experience, and the patterns we have learned, to rapidly size up situations and know how to respond without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/intuition-is-when-we-use-our-experience-and-the-patterns-we-have/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [My research suggests that when people get rebuffed they become frustrated and angry, but they would do better to become curious about the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/my-research-suggests-that-when-people-get-rebuffed-they-become/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [If a situation is very, very turbulent, it has low validity, and there's no basis for intuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/if-a-situation-is-very-very-turbulent-it-has-low-validity-and-there-s/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [Society's epitome of credibility is John Wayne, who sizes up a situation and says, "Here's what I'm going to do" - and you follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/society-s-epitome-of-credibility-is-john-wayne-who-sizes-up-a/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [Many change initiatives are poorly thought out, and rolled out prematurely. Others are genuinely good ideas but the proponents underestimate the amount of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/many-change-initiatives-are-poorly-thought-out-and-rolled-out/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [Many business intuitions and expertise are going to be valuable; they are telling you something useful, and you want to take advantage of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/many-business-intuitions-and-expertise-are-going-to-be-valuable-they/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) > [The ability to help others gain insights seems very important to me, and I think one of the most effective, but most difficult, ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/the-ability-to-help-others-gain-insights-seems-very-important-to-me/) [Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) [Explore all 24 Gary A. Klein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) [Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are committed to the change, you're going to have to sideline the skeptics, or at least keep them under control. There may be a temptation to move them out but skeptics have a value - flagging weaknesses in the plan. Ideally, you will enlist their critical stance by challenging them to find ways to improve the plan as you go forward.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary A. Klein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-re-going-to-have-to-sideline/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-re-going-to-have-to-sideline/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/gary-a-klein-24826_challenges_if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-r_512489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are committed to the change, you're going to have to sideline the skeptics, or at least keep them…” — Gary A. Klein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gary A. Klein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you are committed to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-re-going-to-have-to-sideline/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/if-you-are-committed-to-the-change-you-re-going-to-have-to-sideline/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```