A friend pulls out a 64-square game board and asks, “Want to play?” You see two games: chess or checkers. So, you ask, “Which one?” Today’s organizations – for profit, NGO, and government – confront challenges that, like the board, invite two different games: traditional management and adaptive practice. To know which, you must ask: Is this a “we know how to do this” … [Read more...] about When You Cannot Manage Change
change management
Is Your Change Effort Ready to Launch?
Leading change is one of the most important – and challenging – senior leadership responsibilities. Unfortunately, research shows that most change efforts fail. While having a “sense of urgency” is widely regarded as important to a successful change effort, ironically – many efforts fail when a change is launched too soon. It takes a wise leader to balance the tension … [Read more...] about Is Your Change Effort Ready to Launch?
Navigating Backlash to Your Change Effort
Resistance to change is inevitable, and not always bad. When many leaders face backlash to change, their instinct is to push right back. A more successful initial response will be to react with appreciation and interest: “Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings. It is great to see that you care so much about the organization. Help me fully … [Read more...] about Navigating Backlash to Your Change Effort
Overcome Your Fear of Failure
In many ways, the world is wired against you taking risks. Will the annual audit ever be critical of you for not trying to seize that new opportunity that you decided was too risky? No. Audits are critical of acts of “commission” vs “omission.” You don’t want the financial report to show a big expense on a project that did not work out. But the audit will never fault … [Read more...] about Overcome Your Fear of Failure
Signs Your Org Change Project is in Trouble
Way to go! You are leading a change! You are following all of the proper steps. You have created a Sense of Urgency and you have a Guiding Coalition leading with you. However, unbeknownst to you – there are forces of mediocrity trying to undermine your effort. There are people who would rather tolerate the problem you are trying to fix, than put in the energy to address … [Read more...] about Signs Your Org Change Project is in Trouble