Leading a change is among the most challenging tasks executives take on. Change management guru, Dr. John Kotter, says that 70% of change efforts fail. Sometimes I wonder if the actual numbers are even higher. There are many changes you might like to lead – a change in culture, staff structure, new products and services, maybe a new financial model. But inertia and … [Read more...] about Improve Your Change Effort
change management
The Leading Change Triad
Leading a change is one of the most important senior leader responsibilities. Leading change can include adjusting the organization’s direction due to changes in the environment, looming problems ahead, new great opportunities, and more. Regardless of the purpose for the effort, Leading Change expert John Kotter says that 75% of change efforts fail. Why? Much has been … [Read more...] about The Leading Change Triad
Leading Through Change Fatigue
Congratulations! You are a new leader! And you have just told your team that your boss has asked you to lead some big changes! Their reaction: “Yeah – that’s what the last person said.” “Blah, blah, blah.” “Ha! Good luck!” “Same old, same old, same old story.” Wow – tough crowd. Unfortunately, this is reaction in a lot of organizations where people … [Read more...] about Leading Through Change Fatigue
Key Abilities to Foster Change
As we have learned in mega-ways during the past eighteen months, today’s environment requires organizations to be prepared to change quickly to be as effective as possible. How can organizations prepare themselves to be ready to make sudden changes necessitated by outside factors? That is the topic of a recent article in Harvard Business Review by consultants from Bain … [Read more...] about Key Abilities to Foster Change
Don’t Throw Away Your Shot
The popular “leading change” approach created by Dr. John Kotter – which I have been teaching for years – is focused on initiating a change with a “sense of urgency” and a Vision for the future. I get that and agree, but I am going to add something to his model the next time I teach it – and that is balancing Urgency with Timing. If you have a sense of urgency about a … [Read more...] about Don’t Throw Away Your Shot