To make a system stronger, we need to make stronger relationships. Margaret J. Wheatley More Quotes by Margaret J. Wheatley More Quotes From Margaret J. Wheatley Probably the most visible example of unintended consequences, is what happens every time humans try to change the natural ecology of a place. Margaret J. Wheatley change example trying In virtually every organization, regardless of mission and function, people are frustrated by problems that seem unsolvable. Margaret J. Wheatley frustrated organization people Surrendering to life offers some wonderful realizations. We learn we're capable of being in this dance, of working with whatever happens. We learn to trust ourselves and then others and, gradually, we learn that life itself can be trusted. Margaret J. Wheatley whatever-happens realization wonderful Life is creative. It makes it up as it goes along. Margaret J. Wheatley creative life-is Power in organizations is the capacity generated by relationships. It is an energy that comes into existence through relationships. Margaret J. Wheatley workplace organization energy Too many problem-solving sessions become battlegrounds where decisions are made based on power rather than intelligence. Margaret J. Wheatley problem decision power In our daily life, we encounter people we are angry, deceitful, intent only on satisfying ere is so their own needs. There is so much anger, distrust, greed, and pettiness that we are losing our capacity to work well together. Margaret J. Wheatley anger work people As we let go of the machine model of work, we begin to step back and see ourselves in new ways, to appreciate wholeness, and to design organizations that honor and make use of the totality of who we are. Margaret J. Wheatley appreciate organization letting-go We've taken disturbances and fluctuations and averaged them together to give us comfortable statistics. Our training has been to look for big numbers, important trends, major variances. Yet it is the slight variations - soft-spoken, even whispered at first - that we need to encourage. Margaret J. Wheatley taken change numbers Circles create soothing space, where even reticent people can realize that their voice is welcome. Margaret J. Wheatley circles voice space Without reflection, we go blindly on our way. Margaret J. Wheatley unintended-consequences reflection way Our growing addiction to the Internet is impairing precious human capacities such as memory, concentration, pattern recognition, meaning-making, and intimacy. We are becoming more restless, more impatient, more demanding, and more insatiable, even as we become more connected and creative. We are rapidly losing the ability to think long about any- thing, even those issues we care about. We flit, moving restlessly from one link to another. Margaret J. Wheatley memories moving thinking Successful organizations, including the Military, have learned that the higher the risk, the more necessary it is to engage everyone's commitment and intelligence. Margaret J. Wheatley military successful commitment The search for the lessons of the new science is still in progress, really in its infancy. In this realm, three is a new kind of freedom, where it is more rewarding to explore than to reach conclusions, more satisfying to wonder than to know, and more exciting to search than to stay put. Curiosity, not certainty, becomes the saving grace. Margaret J. Wheatley learning curiosity grace In this present culture, we need to find the means to work and live together with less aggression if we are to resolve the serious problems that afflict and impede us. Margaret J. Wheatley together mean needs Without aggression, it becomes possible to think well, to be curious about differences, and to enjoy each other's company. Margaret J. Wheatley curious differences thinking The future cannot be determined. It can only be experienced as it occurring. Life doesn't know what it will be until it notices what it has become. Margaret J. Wheatley determined knows For me, this is a familiar image - people in the organization ready and willing to do good work, wanting to contribute their ideas, ready to take responsibility, and leaders holding them back, insisting that they wait for decisions or instructions Margaret J. Wheatley organization responsibility ideas This is a world of process, not a world of things. Margaret J. Wheatley process world When leaders take back power, when they act as heroes and saviors, they end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and deeply stressed. Margaret J. Wheatley stressed leadership hero
