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Change Management

Kotter's 8-Step Change Model Explained

Kotter's 8-Step model is a playbook for leading big change across an organization, from lighting the initial urgency to making the new way permanent.

Kotter's 8-Step model, introduced by Harvard professor John Kotter, is a sequence for leading large-scale organizational change. You can read Kotter's own summary at Kotter Inc. Where ADKAR follows the individual, Kotter follows the organization.

In one lineKotter's model is an eight-step sequence for leading organization-wide change and making it stick.

The eight steps

  1. Create urgencyMake the case for why change must happen now.
  2. Build a guiding coalitionAssemble a group with the influence to lead it.
  3. Form a strategic visionDefine the future and the strategy to reach it.
  4. Enlist a volunteer armyCommunicate the vision and win broad buy-in.
  5. Enable action by removing barriersClear the obstacles that block progress.
  6. Generate short-term winsCreate visible early successes to build momentum.
  7. Sustain accelerationPress on and tackle bigger changes without declaring victory too soon.
  8. Institute changeAnchor the new behavior in the culture so it lasts.

How to use it

The steps are meant to run in order, though the later stages often overlap. The model is strong on leadership and momentum, and it relies on communication and enablement throughout. In practice, teams often combine Kotter's organization-level sequence with ADKAR's individual-level stages, and both depend on getting people trained quickly through change management enablement.

Key takeaways

  • Eight steps from creating urgency to anchoring change in the culture.
  • It is organization-focused, unlike the individual-focused ADKAR.
  • Short-term wins build the momentum that carries big change.
  • Communication and enablement run through every step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 8 steps of Kotter's model?
Create urgency, build a guiding coalition, form a strategic vision, enlist a volunteer army, enable action by removing barriers, generate short-term wins, sustain acceleration, and institute change.
Who created the 8-Step change model?
John Kotter, a professor at Harvard Business School, introduced it in his 1996 book Leading Change.
Can I use Kotter and ADKAR together?
Yes. Kotter guides the organization-wide sequence while ADKAR ensures each individual moves through their own stages of change. Many teams use both.

Related terms

Change managementADKARInstructional design

Last reviewed 2026-08-10. Recourse publishes these guides to help learning, customer education, and change teams. Figures and product details are drawn from public sources and vendor materials and can change.