--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it is quite dangerous for an…" description: "\"I think it is quite dangerous for an organisation to think they can predict where they are going to need leadership. It needs to be something that peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/margaret-j-wheatley-4368_assuming_i-think-it-is-quite-dangerous-for-an-org_2595005.png" --- # I think it is quite dangerous for an organisation to think… ![“I think it is quite dangerous for an organisation to think they can predict where they are going to need leadership. It needs to be something that people are willing to assume if it feels relevant, given the context of any situation” quote by Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/margaret-j-wheatley-4368_assuming_i-think-it-is-quite-dangerous-for-an-org_2595005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/margaret-j-wheatley-4368_assuming_i-think-it-is-quite-dangerous-for-an-org_2595005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/margaret-j-wheatley-4368_assuming_i-think-it-is-quite-dangerous-for-an-org_2595005.png) > “I think it is quite dangerous for an organisation to think they can predict where they are going to need leadership. It needs to be something that people are willing to assume if it feels relevant, given the context of any situation” [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Organizations cannot reliably predict future leadership needs; leadership must be assumed when relevant. **In simple terms:** Leadership is context‑driven, not forecasted. Key Takeaway Cultivate adaptable leadership. Themes leadership uncertainty adaptability Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type analysis advice When to use this quote - strategic planning - change management - team empowerment - scenario analysis Key Concepts systems thinking contextual awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify emerging leaders? - What signals indicate leadership relevance? A Different Perspective May lack concrete guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Organisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-organisation-1893294/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-needs-629340/) [Need Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-leadership-1112837/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-people/) [Organisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisation/) [Organisation Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisation-think-1893293/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [There are too many organisations - and the BBC is a fabulous organisation - that seem to think it's OK to badger, hector and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-edmonds/there-are-too-many-organisations-and-the-bbc-is-a-fabulous/) [Noel Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-edmonds/) > [Leadership is neither about you or me; it is about something that needs to be done. Leaders figure out how it can be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/leadership-is-neither-about-you-or-me-it-is-about-something-that/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Whoever is providing leadership needs to be as fresh and thoughtful and reflective as possible to make the very best fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/whoever-is-providing-leadership-needs-to-be-as-fresh-and-thoughtful/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [“IT leadership needs to shift from “surviving to striving to thriving” mode; IT also needs to shift from “controlling to change to innovate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/it-leadership-needs-to-shift-from-surviving-to-striving-to-thriving/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [There are times when leadership needs to take a bold move forward. And there are times when the leadership needs to act on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/there-are-times-when-leadership-needs-to-take-a-bold-move-forward-and/) [Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/) > [“Leadership needs continuous learning from experience. Every time you learn something new, you re-wire your brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/leadership-needs-continuous-learning-from-experience-every-time-you/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [The nature of the global business environment guarantees that no matter how hard we work to create a stable and healthy organisation, our organisation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/the-nature-of-the-global-business-environment-guarantees-that-no/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [I believe that the capacity that any organisation needs is for leadership to appear anywhere it is needed, when it is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/i-believe-that-the-capacity-that-any-organisation-needs-is-for/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [“Worried that you’re not a born leader? That you lack charisma, the right talents, or some other secret ingredient? No need: leadership isn’t about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-school-press/worried-that-you-re-not-a-born-leader-that-you-lack-charisma-the/) [Harvard Business School Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-school-press/) > [People are selfish. But they can also be compassionate and generous, and they care about the country. But not when they feel threatened. That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/people-are-selfish-but-they-can-also-be-compassionate-and-generous/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [Where there is no uncertainty, there is no longer the need for leadership. The greater the uncertainty, the greater the need for leadership. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/where-there-is-no-uncertainty-there-is-no-longer-the-need-for/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [I think you need a leadership team that is absolutely ravenous to get at the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-jassy/i-think-you-need-a-leadership-team-that-is-absolutely-ravenous-to-get/) [Andy Jassy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-jassy/) > [We need more leadership at every level: federal, state, and local.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-macy/we-need-more-leadership-at-every-level-federal-state-and-local/) [Beth Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-macy/) > [Uncertainty is not an indication of poor leadership; it underscores the need for leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/uncertainty-is-not-an-indication-of-poor-leadership-it-underscores/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [You don't need leadership to lead , just courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-michel/you-don-t-need-leadership-to-lead-just-courage/) [Jose Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-michel/) ## More by Margaret J. Wheatley > [There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/there-is-no-power-for-change-greater-than-a-community-discovering/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [For us, someone who is willing to step forward and help is much more courageous than someone who is merely fulfilling the role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/for-us-someone-who-is-willing-to-step-forward-and-help-is-much-more/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [I believe that the capacity that any organization needs is for leadership to appear anywhere it is needed, when it is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/i-believe-that-the-capacity-that-any-organization-needs-is-for/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [Perseverance is a choice. It's not a simple, one-time choice, it's a daily one. There's never a final decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/perseverance-is-a-choice-it-s-not-a-simple-one-time-choice-it-s-a/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful as we discover how truly necessary we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/when-we-seek-for-connection-we-restore-the-world-to-wholeness-our/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [Aggression only moves in one direction - it creates more aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/aggression-only-moves-in-one-direction-it-creates-more-aggression/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [The future cannot be determined. It can only be experienced as it is occurring. Life doesn't know what it will be until it notices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/the-future-cannot-be-determined-it-can-only-be-experienced-as-it-is/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [A world based on machine images is a world filled with boundaries. In a machine, every piece knows its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/a-world-based-on-machine-images-is-a-world-filled-with-boundaries-in/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [For eons, humans have struggled to find less destructive ways of living together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/for-eons-humans-have-struggled-to-find-less-destructive-ways-of/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [You can’t hate someone whose story you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/you-can-t-hate-someone-whose-story-you-know/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [we can't be creative if we refuse to be confused. Change always starts with confusion; cherished interpretations must dissolve to make way for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/we-can-t-be-creative-if-we-refuse-to-be-confused-change-always-starts/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are unimaginable in any other context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/determination-energy-and-courage-appear-spontaneously-when-we-care/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [Aggression only breeds more aggression. It only creates more fear and anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/aggression-only-breeds-more-aggression-it-only-creates-more-fear-and/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [We are, always, poets, exploring possibilities of meaning in a world which is also all the time exploring possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/we-are-always-poets-exploring-possibilities-of-meaning-in-a-world/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) > [I think a major act of leadership right now, call it a radical act, is to create the places and processes so people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-j-wheatley/i-think-a-major-act-of-leadership-right-now-call-it-a-radical-act-is/) [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) [Explore all 112 Margaret J. Wheatley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-j-wheatley/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it is quite dangerous for an organisation to think they can predict where they are going to need leadership. It needs to be something that people are willing to assume if it feels relevant, given the context of any situation", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret J. 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