--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A new leader has to be able to change an…" description: "\"A new leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless and visionless ... someone's got to make a wake up call.\" — Warren G...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/warren-g-bennis-3361_able_a-new-leader-has-to-be-able-to-change-an_1809021.png" --- # A new leader has to be able to change an organization that… ![“A new leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless and visionless ... someone's got to make a wake up call.” quote by Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/warren-g-bennis-3361_able_a-new-leader-has-to-be-able-to-change-an_1809021.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/warren-g-bennis-3361_able_a-new-leader-has-to-be-able-to-change-an_1809021.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d3/warren-g-bennis-3361_able_a-new-leader-has-to-be-able-to-change-an_1809021.png) > “A new leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless and visionless ... someone's got to make a wake up call.” [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leaders must revitalize stagnant, aimless organizations with purpose. **In simple terms:** Leaders need to awaken organizations lacking vision. Key Takeaway Inspire purpose and direction. Themes leadership change management vision Mood motivational urgent Type leadership inspirational When to use this quote - corporate turnaround - non‑profit revitalization - team building - strategic planning Key Concepts organizational culture motivation Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to inspire a vision? - How do you handle pushback? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated culture can meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Being a leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-organization-1408491/) [Future leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-leaders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership and change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-and-change/) [Leadership development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-development/) [New Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-leader-2097985/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Organization Dreamless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization-dreamless-2097986/) [Soulless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soulless/) [Soulless Visionless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soulless-visionless-2097987/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) [Wake up call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up-call/) ## Related quotes > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/leadership-is-lifting-a-person-s-vision-to-high-sights-the-raising-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-building-of-a-personality-beyond-its-normal-limitations/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/in-periods-where-there-is-no-leadership-society-stands-still/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The new leader is one who commits people to action, who converts followers into leaders, and who may convert leaders into agents of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-new-leader-is-one-who-commits-people-to-action-who-converts/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don't think that's quite it; it's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/i-used-to-think-that-running-an-organization-was-equivalent-to-2/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [There is an inexorable correlation between leadership and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/there-is-an-inexorable-correlation-between-leadership-and-change/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We have a Marlboro Man Theory of leadership and change, especially in America, but in fact anything great that's accomplished is accomplished by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-morgan/we-have-a-marlboro-man-theory-of-leadership-and-change-especially-in/) [Nick Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-morgan/) > [If you don't change direction, you end up where you are headed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gibbons/if-you-don-t-change-direction-you-end-up-where-you-are-headed/) [John Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gibbons/) > [Learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/learners-inherit-the-earth-while-the-learned-find-themselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [In times of change, learners inherit the earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/in-times-of-change-learners-inherit-the-earth/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Change is the norm; unless an organization sees that its task is to lead change, that organization will not survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/change-is-the-norm-unless-an-organization-sees-that-its-task-is-to/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group - a team - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/producing-major-change-in-an-organization-is-not-just-about-signing/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [We're trained to see the world in terms of charismatic organizations and charismatic people. That's who we look to for leadership and change, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-re-trained-to-see-the-world-in-terms-of-charismatic-organizations/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) ## More by Warren G. Bennis > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Great groups deliver great results. And for everyone involved in a great group, great work is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/great-groups-deliver-great-results-and-for-everyone-involved-in-a/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is like beauty - it's hard to define but you know it when you see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/leadership-is-like-beauty-it-s-hard-to-define-but-you-know-it-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Coaching will become the model for leaders in the future... I am certain that leadership can be learned and that terrific coaches... facilitate learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/coaching-will-become-the-model-for-leaders-in-the-future-i-am-certain/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Servant leadership teaches us that you have to lay your cards on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/servant-leadership-teaches-us-that-you-have-to-lay-your-cards-on-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Recognize and respect mutual self-interests, then build creative collaborations to serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/recognize-and-respect-mutual-self-interests-then-build-creative/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If great teams don't have an "enemy," they create one for themselves because, as former Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta pointed out, "you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-great-teams-don-t-have-an-enemy-they-create-one-for-themselves/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [All great leaders constantly seek new information and new ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/all-great-leaders-constantly-seek-new-information-and-new-ways-of/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Trust is difficult to define, but we know when it's present and when it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/trust-is-difficult-to-define-but-we-know-when-it-s-present-and-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Around the world, the generals are being ousted, and the poets are taking charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/around-the-world-the-generals-are-being-ousted-and-the-poets-are/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The failure to find the right niche for people - or to let them find their own perfect niches - is a major reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-failure-to-find-the-right-niche-for-people-or-to-let-them-find/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Effective leaders make a full commitment to be a learner, to keep increasing and nourishing their knowledge and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/effective-leaders-make-a-full-commitment-to-be-a-learner-to-keep/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Encourage reflective backtalk: Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-reflective-backtalk-leaders-know-the-importance-of-having/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) [Explore all 132 Warren G. Bennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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