Decoding Tomorrow:
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Change Management Is So Old School

05 Jul 2011

Change Management Anders Sorman-Nilsson Change Leadership

Change doesn't care whether you like it or not. It happens without your permission. 

Who loves change?...

The technology geeks amongst you may put up your hands and say 'Amen' or whatever term you most prefer to articulate exuberance, but the reality is that we as people don't really like change. 

Who likes a change in partner for example? You may say you do, but it requires a lot of adjustment, counselling and paperwork. 

Who likes a change in weather? Well, as long as it's for the better, we probably don't mind, but when Chilean or Icelandic ash-clouds affect our travels and convenience, we most likely don't.

Who likes a change in cell structure? That's called a cancer and one of the things we fear the most?

How about a change in hairdressers? If you ever want to study retention and trust, you need to case study the hairdressing industry, a profession who enjoys some of the highest customer loyalty in the world.

What about a change in our constitution? Only 8 out of 44 referenda to change the Australian constitution have passed, which means most Australians enjoy an attitude of 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it'.

At the same time as people (including myself) have a subjective and fickle aversion to change management, I also strongly believe that 'a roof should be fixed while it's sunny'. Change management while things are good is perhaps one of the strangest concepts, yet one of the most critical. This is what Nokia didn't get, and thus they are lagging behind in mobile technology. This is what Cirquit City didn't get, and thus it was overtaken by Best Buy. This is what Microsoft didn't get, and thus the big technology battle became one of Apple v Google, instead of 'Hi I am a Mac, and I'm a PC'. 

But can change really be managed, and must it rather, be inspired? Change is so individual, so personal, so deep. For anyone who has ever tried to influence, persuade, or rather manipulate a partner into new behaviours and ways of thinking, you'll know what I mean.

Change management implies that you manage someone else's change, doesn't it?

What are your thoughts on change management versus change leadership?

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