--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Innovative organizations provide the…" description: "\"Innovative organizations provide the freedom to act which arouses the desire to act.\" — Rosabeth Moss Kanter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png" --- # Innovative organizations provide the freedom to act which… ![“Innovative organizations provide the freedom to act which arouses the desire to act.” quote by Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png) > “Innovative organizations provide the freedom to act which arouses the desire to act.” [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that granting autonomy sparks intrinsic motivation to act. **In simple terms:** Freedom fuels desire to act. Key Takeaway Give people autonomy to inspire action. Themes leadership motivation autonomy Mood encouraging pragmatic Type leadership strategic When to use this quote - team projects - innovation labs - community initiatives Key Concepts organizational behavior psychology empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can autonomy be balanced with direction? - What structures support creative freedom? A Different Perspective Too much freedom without guidance can cause chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Arouses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-arouses-5745851/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-act-3878048/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Innovative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovative/) [Innovative Organizations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovative-organizations-3591562/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Organizations Provide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organizations-provide-5745852/) [Provide Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provide-freedom-2146830/) ## Related quotes > [Average companies give their people something to work on. The most innovative organizations give their people something to work toward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/average-companies-give-their-people-something-to-work-on-the-most/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted. We must do all we can to extend our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/freedom-and-security-are-precious-gifts-that-we-as-americans-should/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [“Anger can enslave us, or it can provide freedom, all depending upon how it is used.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc/anger-can-enslave-us-or-it-can-provide-freedom-all-depending-upon-how/) [David W. Earle LPC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc/) > [I don't have any desire to ever act again full time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-have-any-desire-to-ever-act-again-full-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only individuals can desire and act. The existence of an institution such as government becomes meaningful only through influencing the actions of those individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/only-individuals-can-desire-and-act-the-existence-of-an-institution/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [Addiction is an increasing desire for an act that gives less and less satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/addiction-is-an-increasing-desire-for-an-act-that-gives-less-and-less/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [After years of telling corporate citizens to 'trust the system,' many companies must relearn instead to trust their people - and encourage their people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/after-years-of-telling-corporate-citizens-to-trust-the-system-many/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Competition has never been more threatening than it is now. Innovative thinkers challenge the status quo in their organizations. They are often viewed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/competition-has-never-been-more-threatening-than-it-is-now-innovative/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [A great thinker once described innovative thinkers this way: "Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why?' I dream of things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/a-great-thinker-once-described-innovative-thinkers-this-way-some-men/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Japan is already a leader in energy efficiency, and it has a wealth of innovative technologies. 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He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/) [Michael Brecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brecker/) > [We have to be innovative, we have to be fresh, we have to be new. People are counting on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-barthel/we-have-to-be-innovative-we-have-to-be-fresh-we-have-to-be-new-people/) [Sarah Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-barthel/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) ## More by Rosabeth Moss Kanter > [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I wonder whether there has been too much emphasis on teaching women to conform, to fit into the system. Certainly that suits conservative organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-wonder-whether-there-has-been-too-much-emphasis-on-teaching-women/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [After years of telling corporate citizens to 'trust the system,' many companies must relearn instead to trust their people - and encourage their people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/after-years-of-telling-corporate-citizens-to-trust-the-system-many/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/creativity-is-a-lot-like-looking-at-the-world-through-a-kaleidoscope/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [The difference between "winners" and "losers" is not whether they face obstacles and setbacks - we all do, and it is inevitable that plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/the-difference-between-winners-and-losers-is-not-whether-they-face/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Friendly people are caring people, eager to provide encouragement and support when needed most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/friendly-people-are-caring-people-eager-to-provide-encouragement-and/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power is the ability to get things done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-is-the-ability-to-get-things-done/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I've been looking at companies that are on a positive path vs. a negative path and I've come to use the language of sports,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-ve-been-looking-at-companies-that-are-on-a-positive-path-vs-a/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power stems from 'rainmaking,' as law firms put it: the ability to bring resources into the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-stems-from-rainmaking-as-law-firms-put-it-the-ability-to-bring/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Leaders must pick causes they won't abandon easily, remain committed despite setbacks, and communicate their big ideas over and over again in every encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/leaders-must-pick-causes-they-won-t-abandon-easily-remain-committed/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary every change project, doubt is cast on the original vision because problems are mounting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-middle-in-neary-every-change/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Confidence is not lodged in people's brains, it comes from the support system that surrounds them. Let's not confuse confidence overall with just self-confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/confidence-is-not-lodged-in-people-s-brains-it-comes-from-the-support/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [During the Boom Years, it was so easy to lose sight of basic values. For example, there was lots of nonsense said and written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/during-the-boom-years-it-was-so-easy-to-lose-sight-of-basic-values/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Winning becomes easier over time as the cornerstones of confidence become habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/winning-becomes-easier-over-time-as-the-cornerstones-of-confidence/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) [Explore all 111 Rosabeth Moss Kanter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Innovative organizations provide the freedom to act which arouses the desire to act.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rosabeth Moss Kanter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/innovative-organizations-provide-the-freedom-to-act-which-arouses-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/innovative-organizations-provide-the-freedom-to-act-which-arouses-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b88/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_desire_innovative-organizations-provide-the-fre_2354819.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Innovative organizations provide the freedom to act which arouses the desire to act.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rosabeth Moss Kanter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Innovative organizations provide the freedom to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/innovative-organizations-provide-the-freedom-to-act-which-arouses-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/innovative-organizations-provide-the-freedom-to-act-which-arouses-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```