You say…”deliberate change efforts that once were popular, even the norm.”
For me, perhaps common, not the norm. Obesity and cancer are common, hopefully, not a “norm.” Abuse and violence are common; hopefully not a norm. Change perhaps is/was common, but doesn’t seem to be a norm. What is more common is perhaps different flavors of what is, but not true and real “change”.
And, “…We're still ordering books, reading blogs, and doing all kinds of things to bump up our game or make a transition.”
For me, this reflects the appearance of (wanting to) change…lots of “activity”, talking about, but, little real and sincere “action”. I think many folks want change for themselves and others — at the 50,000-foot level — cognitively, intellectually, and even from that “hope” perspective.
In reality, at ground level, when it comes to self-responsible, intentional, purposeful, consistent, and self-disciplined action toward making change, many folks still want it for others (your “ways to improve something” or someone), but not for themselves. It’s too much like “work.” So, in this case many folks are comfortably numb, not to the concept or “activity” or “thinking about” change, but to notion of taking honest, sincere, self-responsible and sustained “action”. Like the difference between working “on” your business and working “in” your business.
Karin H
· 1 year ago
Change dead? Never. Numbed, no don't really think so. Tiered of hypes on change 'dictated' by this or that guru? Yes.
We - persons, relationships, businesses, circumstance - always are changing something - that's human nature otherwise we would still be living in caves hunting bears. And through chance we learn, everyday.
I've learned not to take everything some guru states for the whole truth and nothing but, I've learned that listening to good advice, specially when it's a case of 'leading by example' will keep changing/improving my business.
No, definitely not dead ;-)
Karin H (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business) - who wished you hadn't changed to disqus ;-)
Dean Fuhrman
· 1 year ago
Hi Steve -
Is this one of those word usage things? I think people generally have on their horizon (a) getting somewhere/accomplishing something and (b) improving, which may just be a subset of (a). These generally have not gone away and are not likely to.
Maybe change is still in the air and it is wearing different clothes.
Tom Haskins
· 1 year ago
Lately, I've been exploring the difference between outsider and insider perspectives. I think Peter nailed the insider perspective with how change feels to most like work, gets managed by keeping it at a high altitude and is something we want someone else to do. We outsiders are passionate about change, reading widely and identifying models that make change easier for others. Change goes on an insider's to-do list or items to discuss in the next annual review. Change is the mission statement, value proposition and deliverables for us outsiders.
Perhaps you're getting told that "talk of change" is going to be a tough sell to the "management fad du jour" niche market. In that case, your value proposition will be the next thing to change. Then your expertise with change becomes the means to some other end, elusive result or desired outcome in the eyes of your customers. then you're selling what they get from changing and how changing with your expertise is faster, better, cheaper or more useful somehow.
TotallyConsumed
· 1 year ago
There is quite a bit of business literature out there already under the heading of 'change' or 'change management'. While the theme of 'change' is definitely relevant, the word and topic is growing tired. Maybe it's time for a new word ... metamorph? Transmogrify? Evolve?
Joe Fusco
· 1 year ago
My question, Steve, would be "why doesn't change work?" Why is it that change efforts are "ineffective," as you put it, beyond just ascribing it to semantics?
My own gut instinct is that organizations and individuals want change, but the cost is too high. The sacrifice, selflessness, surrunder and plain old hard work is often too high a price to pay for many. Instead, we want and expect "microwave change" -- throw a plastic bowl in, press a few buttons, and instant gratification.
All Comments
Great question and inquiry.
You say…”deliberate change efforts that once were popular, even the norm.”
For me, perhaps common, not the norm. Obesity and cancer are common, hopefully, not a “norm.” Abuse and violence are common; hopefully not a norm. Change perhaps is/was common, but doesn’t seem to be a norm. What is more common is perhaps different flavors of what is, but not true and real “change”.
And, “…We're still ordering books, reading blogs, and doing all kinds of things to bump up our game or make a transition.”
For me, this reflects the appearance of (wanting to) change…lots of “activity”, talking about, but, little real and sincere “action”.
I think many folks want change for themselves and others — at the 50,000-foot level — cognitively, intellectually, and even from that “hope” perspective.
In reality, at ground level, when it comes to self-responsible, intentional, purposeful, consistent, and self-disciplined action toward making change, many folks still want it for others (your “ways to improve something” or someone), but not for themselves. It’s too much like “work.”
So, in this case many folks are comfortably numb, not to the concept or “activity” or “thinking about” change, but to notion of taking honest, sincere, self-responsible and sustained “action”. Like the difference between working “on” your business and working “in” your business.
Numbed, no don't really think so. Tiered of hypes on change 'dictated' by this or that guru? Yes.
We - persons, relationships, businesses, circumstance - always are changing something - that's human nature otherwise we would still be living in caves hunting bears. And through chance we learn, everyday.
I've learned not to take everything some guru states for the whole truth and nothing but, I've learned that listening to good advice, specially when it's a case of 'leading by example' will keep changing/improving my business.
No, definitely not dead ;-)
Karin H (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business) - who wished you hadn't changed to disqus ;-)
Is this one of those word usage things? I think people generally have on their horizon (a) getting somewhere/accomplishing something and (b) improving, which may just be a subset of (a). These generally have not gone away and are not likely to.
Maybe change is still in the air and it is wearing different clothes.
Perhaps you're getting told that "talk of change" is going to be a tough sell to the "management fad du jour" niche market. In that case, your value proposition will be the next thing to change. Then your expertise with change becomes the means to some other end, elusive result or desired outcome in the eyes of your customers. then you're selling what they get from changing and how changing with your expertise is faster, better, cheaper or more useful somehow.
My own gut instinct is that organizations and individuals want change, but the cost is too high. The sacrifice, selflessness, surrunder and plain old hard work is often too high a price to pay for many. Instead, we want and expect "microwave change" -- throw a plastic bowl in, press a few buttons, and instant gratification.