Joe and Wanda on Management

In their book, Our Iceberg is Melting, John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber list the following eight steps for dealing with change successfully.

1. Create a Sense of Urgency
2. Pull Together the Guiding Team
3. Develop the Change Vision and Strategy
4. Communicate for Understanding and Buy In
5. Empower Others to Act
6. Produce Short-Term Wins
7. Don’t Let Up
8. Create a New Culture

Thoughts?

Joe Kerr: Will you give me a break with the lists? Does anyone work anymore, or do they just sit around and make lists that tell other people what to do? Listen, things change. Sooner or later your iceberg is going to melt or someone is going to moves your cheese. Get over it! Put down the little book with the 16 point font and get some work done.

Wanda B. Goode: I think the first point really says a lot. We don’t act unless there is a crisis. So we have to actually create the crisis to light a fire under people. It’s kind of a shame when you think about it.

In any event, the list seems to make an awful lot of sense. Communications is an area that is usually lacking. We don’t get others involved as much as we should either. I think it’s a good idea any time we embark on a change to delve into this list.

William Bridges has written a nice book on change called, Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes.

Here’s a post on 5 principles that generally underlie successful change programs.
Managing Change Principles For Success

Finally, here’s one on ways that we as individuals can prepare for and manage change
7 Essential Skills for Managing Change

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