Being successful Quote by James Merlino
“Talking about improving the culture, I prefer to say "develop" or "evolve" rather than "change". If I walk into a room and say: "we are here to change the organization," it sends shock waves through the group. If I say: "your success to date has come from who you are, to be successful in the future, we need to get to X, let's talk about how we evolve the organization to that point," that is a very different statement. Successful organizational "change" must come from the people. So, recruit them with common purpose, recognize that it will take time, and plow forward.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Leadership workshop, date unknown
Emphasizes framing organizational growth as evolution rather than abrupt change to reduce resistance and align people with purpose.
In simple terms: Use “evolve” instead of “change” to ease transitions.
Key Takeaway
Guide growth through shared purpose and patience.
Themes
leadership
culture
change management
communication
Mood
thoughtful
strategic
Type
advisory
inspirational
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- strategic planning sessions
- onboarding new hires
Key Concepts
organizational development
psychology of resistance
shared purpose
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you measure the impact of “evolving” language on team morale?
- What steps ensure purpose aligns with evolution?
A Different Perspective
People may still feel threatened despite softer language.
![“You can’t mandate [cultural change], can’t engineer it. What you can do is create the conditions for transformation. You can provide incentives. You can define the marketplace realities and goals. But then you have to trust. In fact, in the end, management doesn’t change culture. Management…” quote by Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/310/lou-gerstner-21499_can-do_you-can-t-mandate-cultural-change-can-t_1951737.jpg)
