--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Change is difficult and it takes time. It…" description: "\"Change is difficult and it takes time. It is hard for people to change their own behavior, much less that of others. Change programs normally address a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/richard-p-rumelt-27695_attitude_change-is-difficult-and-it-takes-time-it_2215445.jpg" --- # Change is difficult and it takes time. It is hard for… ![“Change is difficult and it takes time. It is hard for people to change their own behavior, much less that of others. Change programs normally address attitudes, ideas, and rewards. But the behaviors of people in organizations are also strongly shaped by habits, routines, and social norms. Real…” quote by Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/richard-p-rumelt-27695_attitude_change-is-difficult-and-it-takes-time-it_2215445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/richard-p-rumelt-27695_attitude_change-is-difficult-and-it-takes-time-it_2215445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/richard-p-rumelt-27695_attitude_change-is-difficult-and-it-takes-time-it_2215445.jpg) > “Change is difficult and it takes time. It is hard for people to change their own behavior, much less that of others. Change programs normally address attitudes, ideas, and rewards. But the behaviors of people in organizations are also strongly shaped by habits, routines, and social norms. Real change requires new power relationships, new work routines and new habits, not just intent.” [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective organizational change needs new power structures, routines, and habits, not just ideas or incentives. **In simple terms:** Change requires new habits and power, not just intent. Key Takeaway Build new routines and relationships. Themes change management organizational behavior leadership Mood challenging reflective Type strategic analytical When to use this quote - corporate restructuring - team reorganization - process redesign - culture shift Key Concepts systems thinking habit formation power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you redesign incentives to support new habits? - What power shifts are needed for lasting change? A Different Perspective People may resist because habits feel safe and familiar. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-behavior-247984/) [Change Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-difficult-701852/) [Change Programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-programs-4160332/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [It takes time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-takes-time/) [Norm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/norm/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-change/) [Social norms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-norms/) [Take time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Policies change, and programs change, according to time.But objective never changes. You might change your method of achieving the objective, but the objective never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/policies-change-and-programs-change-according-to-time-but-objective/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [A change of heart leads to change in behavior, and a change in behavior leads to changing the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/a-change-of-heart-leads-to-change-in-behavior-and-a-change-in/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Change your mindset, and you’ll change your behavior. Change your behavior, and you’ll change their behavior. Change their behavior, and you’ll change their performance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-souza/change-your-mindset-and-you-ll-change-your-behavior-change-your/) [Brian Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-souza/) > [How do you change your behavior? Change what you worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/how-do-you-change-your-behavior-change-what-you-worship/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [There are three ways to correct our faults:We can change through behavior We can change through understanding We can change heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-are-three-ways-to-correct-our-faults-we-can-change-through/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Our bodies change our minds, and our minds can change our behavior, and our behavior can change our outcomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-bodies-change-our-minds-and-our-minds-can-change-our-behavior-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The brilliant rationalist had encountered a central, frustrating tenet of human nature: behavior change is hard. The cleverest engineer or economist or politician or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-levitt/the-brilliant-rationalist-had-encountered-a-central-frustrating-tenet/) [Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-levitt/) > [“And Pudgy," she called after him, causing him to hesitate at the door, "Sometimes the best way to change someone else's behavior is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-pudgy-she-called-after-him-causing-him-to-hesitate-at-the-door/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only when you find the courage to say something to someone that might influence a change in your behavior, does that behavior change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/only-when-you-find-the-courage-to-say-something-to-someone-that-might/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [To make a label change is a difficult time because there is that lag period between the product you had out and the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lari-white/to-make-a-label-change-is-a-difficult-time-because-there-is-that-lag/) [Lari White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lari-white/) > [Human beings find change very difficult. They find change is something that can be quite an awkward thing to adjust to. It applies to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wilson/human-beings-find-change-very-difficult-they-find-change-is-something/) [Steven Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wilson/) > [I know that I must be crying in vain. I know nothing will change. But it is difficult to ignore the person I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj/i-know-that-i-must-be-crying-in-vain-i-know-nothing-will-change-but/) [AJ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj/) > [Change Is Difficult Not Changing Is Fatal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/change-is-difficult-not-changing-is-fatal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an OCD guy, I find change difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/as-an-ocd-guy-i-find-change-difficult/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) ## More by Richard P. Rumelt > [“The product lineup was too complicated and the company was bleeding cash. A friend of the family asked me which Apple computer she should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/the-product-lineup-was-too-complicated-and-the-company-was-bleeding/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“Whatever you think about this definition of leadership, a problem arises when it is confused with strategy. Leadership and strategy may be joined in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/whatever-you-think-about-this-definition-of-leadership-a-problem/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [You overcome the logical resistance to change by proving that a new approach actually works, usually on a small scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/you-overcome-the-logical-resistance-to-change-by-proving-that-a-new/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [The US needs military/defense, economic, and social strategies. A medium-sized business, by contrast, is normally best off focusing its efforts on a single crucial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/the-us-needs-military-defense-economic-and-social-strategies-a-medium/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“The most basic idea of strategy is the application of strength against weakness. Or, if you prefer, strength applied to the most promising opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/the-most-basic-idea-of-strategy-is-the-application-of-strength/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“Many people call the guiding policy “the strategy” and stop there. This is a mistake. Strategy is about action, about doing something. The kernel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/many-people-call-the-guiding-policy-the-strategy-and-stop-there-this/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“Bad strategy may actively avoid analyzing obstacles because a leader believes that negative thoughts get in the way. Leaders may create bad strategy by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/bad-strategy-may-actively-avoid-analyzing-obstacles-because-a-leader/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“It is often said that a strategy is a choice or a decision. The words “choice” and “decision” evoke an image of someone considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/it-is-often-said-that-a-strategy-is-a-choice-or-a-decision-the-words/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [A real strategy is a coherent mix of policy and action designed to overcome a significant challenge. So a sensible employee might indeed say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/a-real-strategy-is-a-coherent-mix-of-policy-and-action-designed-to/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“Nevertheless, the doctrine that one can impose one’s visions and desires on the world by the force of thought alone retains a powerful appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/nevertheless-the-doctrine-that-one-can-impose-one-s-visions-and/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“Not miscalculation, bad strategy is the active avoidance of the hard work of crafting a good strategy. One common reason for choosing avoidance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/not-miscalculation-bad-strategy-is-the-active-avoidance-of-the-hard-2/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [A good strategy focuses efforts on a target, and that focus can only be achieved by not diffusing energy in other directions - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/a-good-strategy-focuses-efforts-on-a-target-and-that-focus-can-only/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [“The best answer to this puzzle is that the real surprise was that such a pure and focused strategy was actually implemented. Most complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/the-best-answer-to-this-puzzle-is-that-the-real-surprise-was-that/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [One of the problems many leaders report is a gap between strategy and execution. Usually this "gap" arises because the so-called "strategy" is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/one-of-the-problems-many-leaders-report-is-a-gap-between-strategy-and/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) > [A real strategy is not bottom up because it deals with issues that require unexpected or unusual types action, especially of coordination among units.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-rumelt/a-real-strategy-is-not-bottom-up-because-it-deals-with-issues-that/) [Richard P. Rumelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) [Explore all 20 Richard P. Rumelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-rumelt/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Change is difficult and it takes time. It is hard for people to change their own behavior, much less that of others. Change programs normally address attitudes, ideas, and rewards. 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