--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those in leadership positions who fail to…" description: "\"Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.\" — John P. Kotter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/john-p-kotter-7969_failure_those-in-leadership-positions-who-fail-t_1240146.png" --- # Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the… ![“Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.” quote by John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/john-p-kotter-7969_failure_those-in-leadership-positions-who-fail-t_1240146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/john-p-kotter-7969_failure_those-in-leadership-positions-who-fail-t_1240146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/john-p-kotter-7969_failure_those-in-leadership-positions-who-fail-t_1240146.png) > “Those in leadership positions who fail to grasp or use the power of stories risk failure for their companies and for themselves.” [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. Warns that leaders ignoring storytelling lose influence and risk failure. **In simple terms:** Stories are essential for leadership success. Key Takeaway Use narratives to guide change. Themes leadership storytelling organizational change Mood inspirational cautionary Type business educational When to use this quote - executive speeches - brand building - employee onboarding - customer communication Key Concepts narrative theory change management Questions to Reflect On - How can stories be integrated with data‑driven strategies? - What stories resonate with diverse audiences? A Different Perspective Stories alone cannot solve structural problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power of stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-stories/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [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-2/) [John P. 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Women are not rejecting leadership positions -- they're rejecting politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celinda-lake/the-fastest-surging-woman-leadership-position-is-heading-non-profit/) [Celinda Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celinda-lake/) > [The gender stereotypes introduced in childhood are reinforced throughout our lives and become self-fulfilling prophesies. Most leadership positions are held by men, so women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/the-gender-stereotypes-introduced-in-childhood-are-reinforced/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) ## 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. 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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. 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(p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. 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