A Sense of Urgency

Most organizational change initiatives fail spectacularly (at worst) or deliver lukewarm results (at best). In his international bestseller Leading Change, John Kotter revealed why change is so hard, and provided an actionable, eight-step process for implementing successful transformations. The book became the change bible for managers worldwide. Now, in A Sense of Urgency, Kotter shines the spotlight on the crucial first step in his framework: creating a sense of urgency by getting people to actually see and feel the need for change. Why focus on urgency? Without it, any change effort is doomed.

Kotter reveals the insidious nature of complacency in all its forms and guises. In this exciting new book, Kotter explains:

1. How to go beyond "the business case" for change to overcome the fear and anger that can suppress urgency
2. Ways to ensure that your actions and behaviors -- not just your words -- communicate the need for change
3. How to keep fanning the flames of urgency even after your transformation effort has scored some early successes Written in Kotter's signature no-nonsense style, this concise and authoritative guide helps you set the stage for leading a successful transformation in your company.

About The Author:
Professor Kotter is the author of seventeen books, a collection that has given him more honors and awards than any other writer on the topics of leadership and change. In addition to A Sense of Urgency (2008), Our Iceberg Is Melting(2006), and Leading Change (1996), Professor Kotter is the author of The Heart of Change (2002), John P. Kotter on What leaders Really Do(1999), Matsushita Leadership (1997), The New Rules(1995), Corporate Culture and Performance (1992), A Force for Change(1990), The Leadership Factor(1988), Power and Influence (1985), The General Managers (1982), and five other books published in the 1970s. Professor Kotter's books have been printed in over 120 foreign language editions, and total sales exceed two million copies.

John Kotter’s articles in The Harvard Business Review over the past twenty years have sold more reprints than any of the hundreds of distinguished authors who have written for that publication during the same time period. His books are in the top 1% of sales from Amazon.com.

He has created three executive videos; one on "Leadership" (1991), another on "Corporate Culture" (1993), a third on "Succeeding in a Changing World" (2007) and an educational CD-ROM, "Realizing Change" (1998) based on the Leading Change book.

Professor Kotter's honors include an Exxon Award for Innovation in Graduate Business School Curriculum Design, and a Johnson, Smith & Knisely Award for New Perspectives in Business Leadership. In 1996, Professor Kotter's Leading Change was named the #1 management book of the year by Management General. In 1998, his Matsushita Leadership won first place in the Financial Times, Booz-Allen Global Business Book Competition for biography/autobiography. In 2003, a video version of a story from his book, The Heart of Change won a Telly Award. In 2006, Kotter received the prestigious McFeely Award for "outstanding contributions to leadership and management development." In 2007, his video "Succeeding in a Changing World" was named best video training product of the year by Training Media Review and also won a Telly Award.

Professor Kotter talks to groups with one and only one goal: to motivate action that gets better results.

Dr. Kotter is a graduate of MIT and Harvard. He joined the Harvard Business School faculty in 1972. In 1980, at the age of 33, he was given tenure and a full professorship.

John Kotter lives in Cambridge Massachusetts and Ashland, New Hampshire.