The management of change, or as it is often called, “change management” has become hugely popular over recent years. Many management consultants have set up offering advice in this area. Significant areas of business, and especially the public sector, have spent considerable sums of money undertaking change programmes. Business schools, and other organisations, have conducted research into this area. It is also rare for business magazines not to have a mention of this topic.
So what is new?
I was recently speaking to a group of top professionals and my speech was entitled ‘Lessons from a dinosaur’. Even though I am a touch past the first flush of youth, this was less about my experience and age! If you have been a follower of my words you may remember the dinosaur footprints I discussed in a much earlier article.
The dinosaurs lived at a time when the world was changing and these fascinating beasts left their footprints in the ground, at sea level. The world changed and when I saw the footprints they were 9,000 feet up in the Andes Mountains in South America. (By the way it is the largest collection of footprints anywhere in the world.)
So change has been around for a long time.
One of my electives at Master degree was on Managing Change, which I pursued at post Masters level too. Indeed, I have been part of, and the instigator of, many programmes that have created significant change. I also have considerable expertise in consulting and leading on change. The one key point I always make is that Change is not new – it was around before the dinosaurs.
I would add, don’t make change sound fearful, dreadful or negative. Much change can be, and is, hugely positive.
Can you imagine a world without the car, the printed word, electric light, the telephone (that no one thought would catch on), the mobile (cell) phone even? In fact you try taking the mobile phone off anyone who has one, let alone a teenager organising their social diary!
So what has this picture got to do with change you may be asking? Well as the seasons suddenly move from summer to autumn here in Britain I was delighted, but also surprised, by the speed of the change. Only days before the bright red leaves you can see in this picture were green. What a fantastic picture they make, especially contrasting with the leaves next to them. That is what change can do.
It got me thinking; so some questions that came to mind:
- What do I need to change?
- Like the green leaves we now see in this picture – What has the change made stand out?
And more pertinent questions I need to consider:
- Have I remained the same and now stand out for the wrong reasons? Or….
- What change do I need to make to really stand out?
And what about you?
- Have you been changing, growing and developing as your own seasons progress?
If you need some help, I do specialise in positive lasting change at an individual, team and business level – just ask.
Growing older is denied to some people, so value the opportunity to grow wiser – you don’t want to become obsolete before your time….or do you?
My best wishes,
Peter
