That's Not How We Do It Here! cover art

That's Not How We Do It Here!

A Story About How Organizations Rise, Fall – and Can Rise Again

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About this listen

Penguin presents the audio edition of That's Not How We Do It Here! by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber, read by Bahni Turpin and John Kotter.

Includes a downloadable PDF of diagrams.

That's Not How We Do It Here! is a business parable about a clan of meerkats who live in the Kalahari. Well organised and efficient, the colony enjoys many years of successful growth, until it suddenly comes under threat from a new form of predator and is forced to rethink its organizational structure.

John Kotter uses this charming parable to explore why organizations often struggle no matter their past success, and why they fall.

Kotter shows that by embracing reliability, efficiency, speed and agility, and building passion, discipline and personal growth, organizations can once again prosper, fulfil their mission, create great jobs and services and generate wealth.

 Management Management & Leadership Organisational Behavior Workplace & Organisational Behavior Business

Critic reviews

This remarkable parable shows us how we re "safer" in changing times when we innovate!
A meerkat falling prey to the unexpected attack of a vulture doesn't keep many leaders up at night. But the unanticipated assault of new competitor, or a fundamental shift in the operating environment, can evoke an almost paralyzing fear in the most successful organizations. This simple parable of furry mammals facing the challenge of adapting to threat offers real insights into the journey so many of us must make. Brilliant!
It works. And not just for meerkats.
John Kotter does it again. His use of metaphor helps readers distill down to the fundamental requirements for a high-performing organization: tapping the hearts and minds of team members in service to a compelling purpose. Leadership enables this, and in doing so unlocks tremendous creativity and potential.
Kotter and Rathgeber's ability to impart clear lessons via fable is as strong as ever
All stars
Most relevant
l love the way John Kotter delivers his message through fables, it really brings the learning alive.

I highly recommend this book.

Another Kotter Classic

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the voice for the fable part in the book is terrible and extremely difficult to follow

the voice is terrible

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I got this based on the recommendation of a senior colleague.

The narration is not as bad as some reviews make out, but it does take your brain some time to tune into the african accent for a Western European. I do feel like the story was a bit too abstract and I wanted to hear more formal reflections on it afterwards from the author.

It was better than average but not the read I hoped it might be.

Bit light on actual advice

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essential listen for those in change and transformation.
resonates well with the art of story telling of why leadership and management are different but essential to ideate drive and sustain successful change

really enjoyable and affirming listen

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What would have made That's Not How We Do It Here! better?

I personally found the narration really hard to get along with. So much so, I couldn't finish the audio book which is why I only give the story 3 stars. I didn't hear it all.

Would you be willing to try another one of Bahni Turpin and John Kotter ’s performances?

John Kotter, definitely yes. His fable approach explains things in a way that is really easy to take in and digest.Bahni Turpin, definitely not.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from That's Not How We Do It Here!?

I would replace the narrator.

Any additional comments?

I had already listened to John Kotter's Our Iceberg Is Melting and found that much better. Initially, I found it almost patronising as if it is a kids book but stick with it and its great. That lead me on to this but it just didn't work for me this time.

I prefer penguins to meerkats

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