Effective leaders help others to understand the necessity of change and to accept a common vision of the desired outcome.

Anyone in a large organization who thinks major change is impossible should probably get out.

Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there.

Great leaders understand that historical success tends to produce stable and inwardly focused organizations, and these outfits, in turn, reinforce a feeling of contentment with the status quo.

This is true even in organizations that are very focused on analysis and quantitative measurement, even among people who think of themselves as smart in an MBA sense. In highly successful change efforts, people find ways to help others see the problems or solutions in ways that influence emotions, not just thought.

Leadership produces change. That is its primary function

Overcoming complacency is crucial at the start of any change process, and it often requires a little bit of surprise, something that grabs attention at more than an intellectual level. You need to surprise people with something that disturbs their view that everything is perfect.