--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many years ago, I think I got my first…" description: "\"Many years ago, I think I got my first insight on how an incredibly diverse team can work together and do astonishing things, and not just misunderstan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/john-p-kotter-7969_astonishing_many-years-ago-i-think-i-got-my-first-in_2724636.png" --- # Many years ago, I think I got my first insight on how an… ![“Many years ago, I think I got my first insight on how an incredibly diverse team can work together and do astonishing things, and not just misunderstand each other and fight.” quote by John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/john-p-kotter-7969_astonishing_many-years-ago-i-think-i-got-my-first-in_2724636.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/john-p-kotter-7969_astonishing_many-years-ago-i-think-i-got-my-first-in_2724636.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/john-p-kotter-7969_astonishing_many-years-ago-i-think-i-got-my-first-in_2724636.png) > “Many years ago, I think I got my first insight on how an incredibly diverse team can work together and do astonishing things, and not just misunderstand each other and fight.” [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Diverse teams succeed when they align on shared purpose and leverage complementary strengths. **In simple terms:** Diverse teams work well together. Key Takeaway Focus on common goals and respect differences. Themes teamwork diversity leadership Mood optimistic inspirational Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - project collaboration - product development - cross‑functional meetings Key Concepts psychological safety collective intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster trust in a varied group? - What shared purpose unites your team? A Different Perspective Diversity can cause conflict if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing/) [Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diverse/) [Diverse Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diverse-team-1019078/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Incredibly Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibly-diverse-956374/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Insight Incredibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight-incredibly-2908645/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-work/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Work together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-together/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Generating diverse ideas requires being clear about the kind of input needed and creating multiple ways for diverse team members to share their ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/generating-diverse-ideas-requires-being-clear-about-the-kind-of-input/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [I believe very strongly in the value of having a diverse team around me that comes from very different backgrounds and different points of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-believe-very-strongly-in-the-value-of-having-a-diverse-team-around/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [Clashing expectations are what most consistently derail any team, and especially a culturally diverse team. So if you take the time to "define" the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/clashing-expectations-are-what-most-consistently-derail-any-team-and/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [I'm very sensitive to the incredibly diverse range of opinions within religious and secular communities, and honestly, I'd appreciate if we focused first on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/i-m-very-sensitive-to-the-incredibly-diverse-range-of-opinions-within/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [Within America, there are extremely different place. I'm not saying it's one homogenous color. It's obviously an incredible place. There's no other place like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/within-america-there-are-extremely-different-place-i-m-not-saying-it/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [The tight end position is incredibly diverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kittle/the-tight-end-position-is-incredibly-diverse/) [George Kittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kittle/) > [I feel like my work has been incredibly diverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-feel-like-my-work-has-been-incredibly-diverse/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [Every day I walk down the street or hop on the subway, I am reminded that I am a citizen of a very big,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/every-day-i-walk-down-the-street-or-hop-on-the-subway-i-am-reminded/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Smaller companies are often more homogenous. Don't simply increase your diversity because of the social pressure to do so. Instead, realize that hiring a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/smaller-companies-are-often-more-homogenous-don-t-simply-increase/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [The more diverse your team, the better you'll be at identifying what a diversity of users perceive as problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/the-more-diverse-your-team-the-better-you-ll-be-at-identifying-what-a/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [I will probably get creamed for saying this, but as a CEO, I've felt a little scared to talk about diversity and inclusion -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-will-probably-get-creamed-for-saying-this-but-as-a-ceo-i-ve-felt-a/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [The most important part of aligning various expectations is to clearly describe the problem you are trying to solve and identify at least three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/the-most-important-part-of-aligning-various-expectations-is-to/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [That's what I love about how diverse our team is - we have such different body types, yet together, we build the best team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-biles/that-s-what-i-love-about-how-diverse-our-team-is-we-have-such/) [Simone Biles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-biles/) > [We see our clients saying we want a diverse team and also to attract people particularly the millennials they really care about working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/we-see-our-clients-saying-we-want-a-diverse-team-and-also-to-attract/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-french-johnson/the-man-who-works-for-the-gold-in-the-job-rather-than-for-the-money/) [Joseph French Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-french-johnson/) ## More by John P. Kotter > [At any one time the world has a very limited number of Steve Jobs or Winston Churchills or Thomas Watson the firsts. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/at-any-one-time-the-world-has-a-very-limited-number-of-steve-jobs-or/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [In a change effort, culture comes last, not first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-a-change-effort-culture-comes-last-not-first/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Motivation is not a thinking word; it's a feeling word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/motivation-is-not-a-thinking-word-it-s-a-feeling-word/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [One of the most common ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about it beforehand. Communication of ideas helps people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/one-of-the-most-common-ways-to-overcome-resistance-to-change-is-to/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group - a team - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/producing-major-change-in-an-organization-is-not-just-about-signing/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Congress is full of people who get reelected and reelected. How can you have urgency when there are all of those safe seats?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/congress-is-full-of-people-who-get-reelected-and-reelected-how-can/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Commercial organisations that operate responsibly have benefitted by increased revenues of 682% compared to 166% for those that don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/commercial-organisations-that-operate-responsibly-have-benefitted-by/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [I am often asked about the difference between 'change management' and 'change leadership,' and whether it's just a matter of semantics. These terms are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/i-am-often-asked-about-the-difference-between-change-management-and/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/leadership-defines-what-the-future-should-look-like-aligns-people/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Over the years I have become convinced that we learn best - and change - from hearing stories that strike a chord within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/over-the-years-i-have-become-convinced-that-we-learn-best-and-change/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [What's really driving the boom in coaching, is this: as we move from 30 miles an hour to 70 to 120 to 180…as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/what-s-really-driving-the-boom-in-coaching-is-this-as-we-move-from-30/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [In terms of getting people to experiment more and take more risk, there are at least three things that immediately come to my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-terms-of-getting-people-to-experiment-more-and-take-more-risk/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Great communicators have an appreciation for positioning. They understand the people they're trying to reach and what they can and can't hear. They send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/great-communicators-have-an-appreciation-for-positioning-they/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [We worry about appearing awkward in a presentation. But up to a point, most people seem to feel more comfortable with less-than-perfect speaking abilities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/we-worry-about-appearing-awkward-in-a-presentation-but-up-to-a-point/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Kotter International is about leading large-scale change, not just managing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/kotter-international-is-about-leading-large-scale-change-not-just/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) [Explore all 85 John P. Kotter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) ## More Astonishing quotes > [It's astonishing what you learn and feel and see along the way. That's why a reporter's job, as you know, is such a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wallace/it-s-astonishing-what-you-learn-and-feel-and-see-along-the-way-that-s/) [Mike Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wallace/) > [A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. But suffering directs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-may-perform-astonishing-feats-and-comprehend-a-vast-amount-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, The Headmaster's Wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime Saigon in the story of Percival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-y-k-lee-2/a-first-novel-of-astonishing-force-craft-and-beauty-the-headmaster-s/) [Janice Y. K. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-y-k-lee-2/) > [“What is astonishing is that we, who had no idea how anything was going to turn out, now know exactly what happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/what-is-astonishing-is-that-we-who-had-no-idea-how-anything-was-going/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [It's a great historical joke that when the Spanish met the Aztecs, it was a blind date made in serve-you-right heaven. At the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/it-s-a-great-historical-joke-that-when-the-spanish-met-the-aztecs-it/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [It was astonishing when at one point, I got the idea of how to make artifical clouds with a collaborator, we had pictures made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/it-was-astonishing-when-at-one-point-i-got-the-idea-of-how-to-make/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/although-there-may-be-nothing-new-under-the-sun-what-is-old-is-new-to/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The astonishing thing for me is that I had a career before politics and I never thought about my colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-gyimah/the-astonishing-thing-for-me-is-that-i-had-a-career-before-politics/) [Sam Gyimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-gyimah/) > [“There is no denying it; one must admit that there is something astonishing about Christianity. 'It is because you were born in it,' they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-is-no-denying-it-one-must-admit-that-there-is-something/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [It's Twitter's combination of simplicity and complexity that is astonishing in the same way that minimalist sculpture was inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-goldsmith/it-s-twitter-s-combination-of-simplicity-and-complexity-that-is/) [Kenneth Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-goldsmith/) > [All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/all-that-we-don-t-know-is-astonishing-even-more-astonishing-is-what/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy which we call mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/still-more-astonishing-is-that-world-of-rigorous-fantasy-which-we/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [“No one ever said aloud any of the kinds of things he was so constantly thinking, because no one in the parish, not Alice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/no-one-ever-said-aloud-any-of-the-kinds-of-things-he-was-so/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [If you worry less about what people think of you, you can pick up an astonishing amount of information about them. You no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/if-you-worry-less-about-what-people-think-of-you-you-can-pick-up-an/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [The Bureau of Justice reports that one in three black male babies born this century will go to jail or prison - that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/the-bureau-of-justice-reports-that-one-in-three-black-male-babies/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) [Browse all 410 Astonishing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many years ago, I think I got my first insight on how an incredibly diverse team can work together and do astonishing things, and not just misunderstand each other and fight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John P. 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