Leading Change in Troubling Times

What Good Leaders Need to Drive Change

May 15, 2009 Paul Larson

Leading change is never going to be a popular or commonly understood and supported undertaking.

This is because leaders first have to separate themselves from the masses to acquire the viewpoint that change is necessary.

“The tendency of the masses is towards mediocrity.” ~ Aldous Huxley

That separation means they start out from a lonely place in the initiation of change. Perhaps that is the true mark of real leaders- that they are willing to stand alone. Because of this, leaders must not only have a good vision and communication skills, they must also have a tremendous personal resolve. They must be willing to sacrifice and take risks with their public image if real change is to come about.

They have to work through their fears and often move before they are fully prepared. This is because waiting for the perfect time to change is often a great excuse and rationalization to stay stuck where they are. They don’t follow the crowd they lead it. They do not read the news they make it happen. News is about change.

Signals for the Need to Drive Change

The early warning signals of coming changes can be found all around in the present. Education can help provide a mental model of what worked in the past and what didn’t. There is plenty of information already pertaining to what the future will be like. The real art in management is interpreting that information. This requires foresight to describe how the vision of the future fits into the way the organization may evolve and it involves hindsight to insure a congruence with the established traditions and culture of the organization.

How do People Experience Change?

Change is almost an appetite. Some crave it, some dread it, and some are in between. Leaders need to know where they stand personally on this issue. This understanding can be learned through assessment. Leaders can actually get a feel where they stand on the issue of change as compared with the rest of the population.

This is an important piece of knowledge because not all people will be standing in the same place on this issue. Leaders knowing their own position can help them understand the varying reactions to change they will experience from others. It is important to remember that this trait is not good or bad, it just is. It is also highly unlikely to change the outlook of an individual. Recognize the differences in people and their reaction to change and move on from there.

Leading Change

Personal change precedes or at least occurs at the same time as organizational change. Because of this, personal change has to be a staple part of the diet of any organization wishing to change. Organizations change as they grow. They have to adapt. Some of this change is gradual over time. Other change is quick in nature like a revolution.

Change is hard work and it will not come from the efforts of a committee. It requires a leader and leadership. Not everyone will be in agreement that the leader is doing the right thing. That’s one of the realities of change. As such, the leader must spend a lot of time communicating, clarifying, generating enthusiasm, and listening.

In leading change, leaders fill up their calendar will be the most telling evidence of personal commitment. Is the leader fostering experimentation and learning? Is the leader spending time with the more traditional or more innovative parts of the organization? Is the leader promoting those who are willing to take risks or only those who are playing it safe? Does the organization filter out information going to the leader?

Any change in the way things will be in the future for an organization must first be “seen” by the leader. Vision is so important. Then that vision gets communicated in a way that the organization can understand it.

The copyright of the article Leading Change in Troubling Times in Business Management is owned by Paul Larson. Permission to republish Leading Change in Troubling Times in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Times of Change Need Prepared Leadership

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