The “Dance of Change” – Dancing on Head of a Pin?
Posted by Todd VanNest on Tue, Dec 28, 2010
As we prepare to turn the last calendar page on 2010 and I reflect on the themes of this blog (still only 3mos old)—“Adopting a New Change Leadership Discipline” and “Simplifying Change,” I will make one more compelling observation…and a heartfelt appeal, one for all Change Leaders to incorporate in their launch to 2011 and increase the success of their business transformation and change efforts:
OBSERVATION: Is complexity in organizational change omnipresent?...Unavoidable?
*The Google search I just entered yielded “about” (Google’s term) 20,100,000 hits for “complex change”…Over 20 Million--Ouch!
*The Linked-in Discussion string I’m participating in re: change methodology spurred over 110 “comments”—many playing out a point-counterpoint exchange, each contributor attempting to clarify, distinguish, or simply “one-up” the other contributors…Ugh!
*As I’ve posted here before, managing change is a large part of a management consulting business that exceeded $340b in 2009…Gulp!
APPEAL: Complexity can be mastered…particularly if leaders take it upon themselves to drive simplification into the change experience! Here are just a few “swing thoughts” (golf/tennis reference) that will accelerate your change leadership success in 2011…simple!
__ How can I add simplicity and increase speed by communicating in the language of those required to support or adopt this new practice (rather than imposing a new language upon them)?
__ Where has my focus as a Change Leader been in the last week…driving “process” (dates, tasks, accountabilities, fighting fires—or, engaging my team in a way that is inspiring (no matter the obstacles) and my stakeholders in a way that they see leadership, not being managed through a change?
__ On the whole, has our behavior as a Change Team this week contributed to trust-building or trust-busting this week (rely on other’s open-ended and candid input re: demonstrated transparency, modeling desired values, accountability, restraining from blame-game, etc.)?
Like the wanting eyes of a child when they hear, “yes, we’ll do that when I’m done with this work” or the sly smile of a golf instructor who’s expression says, “yes, you just ignored everything we just worked on at the range,” the path to learning, change, and success lies in simplicity.
You can get so much more done…with less!
Wishing you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Todd A. VanNest
Creator, The LAST Word on Change
