Bigs Quote by Warren G. Bennis
“Almost without exception, members of great groups see themselves as winning underdogs, as a feisty David hurling fresh ideas at a big, backward-looking Goliath. They always have an "enemy."”
About This Quote
Source Book: "On Becoming a Leader" by Warren Bennis, 1989
Great teams view themselves as underdogs battling entrenched opposition, which fuels innovation and cohesion.
In simple terms: Teams see themselves as challengers against the status quo.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the underdog mindset to spark creativity.
Themes
leadership
team dynamics
innovation
conflict
identity
Mood
determined
energetic
defiant
Type
motivational
strategic
When to use this quote
- startup teams
- social movements
- product development
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
psychology of competition
group cohesion
strategic positioning
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing challenges as battles affect team morale?
- When might this mindset hinder cooperation?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on an enemy can create unnecessary conflict and distract from collaboration.
![“Some people don't understand that but it's nice when it really just gets to the point then that it [music] doesn't get played so much that you're overdoing a lot of things; that it's fresh ideas. And they come out fresh and if you're already in the mode, I guess, to simplify some things so that it…” quote by Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d0/stevie-ray-vaughan-13057_fresh-ideas_some-people-don-t-understand-that-but-it_798792.jpg)
![“The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before going in with [Larry] Holmes. That would have made all the difference.” quote by Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d63/gerry-cooney-20863_bigs_the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-m_1534.jpg)
