Change Whisperer – Gail Severini's Blog


Stolen: Change Management. Reward offered. So What? Post 1

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters.” — Albert Einstein

How often have you seen “3 phases,” “5 steps,” “8 guidelines,” or a “curve” where no source material is referenced? How is it possible that blog posts, articles, and methodologies that describe and prescribe change management offer no citations?

The transitions that human beings make through change―both as individuals and in groups―are complex. This has been studied by psychologists for decades. Over the years, extensive research has been conducted and there is science behind the principles that have emerged and been distilled.

Is it conceivable that any author (outside of a handful or so of luminaries) could possibly have the first-hand research and practical experience to produce legitimate, original work—solo?  “Oh,” you say, “I often see Kurt Lewin, Dr. Kübler-Ross, and maybe even Edgar Schein referenced.”  And?  Right, not many others―particularly not when it comes to methodology.

Confounding. Impossible. Rubbish.
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Change Management Conferences 2013

Conferences are an important professional development opportunity. Most provide best practices as well as innovation tracks (and the networking is terrific). Please note this is not an endorsement―just a list. I will let you know the ones we will attend. Let’s connect if you will be there also.

Many of the conferences for 2013 are being organized and announced now. In some cases, the “call for papers” is still open.

This post is all about change management conferences in the US and Canada.

I have also started tracking Strategy and Strategy Execution conferences. That post will be published shortly.
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Top 10 Competencies for Change Agents

What competencies should leaders and agents excel at to be successful? Are you building a Community of Practice or Centre of Excellence?  What’s on your list?

Below is my top-ten list for change agents―with a bonus for change targets. A previous post provided my top ten list for change leaders.

Late addition: Some might ask why there is no mention of methodologies or tools here—to which I would like to quote my friend Tamara Moore “A fool with a tool is still a fool”.  Perhaps the two single most critical success factors in executing change are the quality of the sponsor and the agent.  So what makes for “quality”?
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Top 10 Competencies for Change Leaders

Transformational change is disruptive, non-linear, unpredictable and requires a leap that not everyone will make.

What does this require of leaders?

Below is my top-ten list for change leaders. In two weeks, the blog will list my top-ten competencies for change agents—and a bonus list for change targets.
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Change Management Methodology (Strategy execution methodologies series. Post 4)

“Business is a machine made out of people” Bill Duane.

In Post 1 of this series, we established that strategy is “just another good idea” until it is implemented and churning out results, and that there is no single turnkey methodology for executing strategy. In Posts 2 and 3, we turned our attention to the “go to” methodology—project management—and explored the two dominant project management methodologies: The Project Management Institute’s (PMI’s) approach and PRINCE2. In this post, we’re going to look at change management and how it’s deployed.

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Library—Great books on strategy execution

Updated March 2013. Additions in red.

LibraryWe all have a “library” of resources we’ve read that have shaped our thinking and practice.

These are the books I reference regularly.

My top four are in bold. (I couldn’t narrow it down to three.)

If you don’t see your favorites please share them in the comments section.

What’s on your bookshelf?

More resources in the Related Posts below.

Leadership:

  • “How to Become a Great Boss: The Rules for Getting and Keeping the Best Employees,” Jeffery J. Fox, Hyperion, New York, 2002
  • “Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment,” George Leonard, Penguin Books USA, Inc. New York, 1992

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Change Management Conferences 2012

There are great conferences every year on Change Management.  These are opportunities to immerse yourself in the strategic, organizational development and design as well as project management approaches to implementing change, and bringing people along responsibly and expeditiously.

This is also where advancements in Change Management thinking are showcased.  No discipline is static and for organizations who recognize that the capability to be nimble is a strategic advantage these are “do not miss” events.
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Building / Evaluating Change Management Capability

Are you building internal capability? Retaining external consultants to execute an initiative?  There are few credentials in the market for Change Management and no turnkey solutions for building capability. 

This post was originally published as Change Management Credentials.  It will be updated from time to time and serve as a repository as we can gather a list (and this is just a list, not an endorsement).

Professional Associations:

Universities and Higher Education: 

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Change Management conferences 2011

Interested in learning more about Change Management? Deepening skills and knowledge? Conferences are a great immersion experience.  Here are the ones currently listed for 2011.

Looking for a great speaker on Change Management?  We know several – give me a call at 416 845 3040 or gail.severini@connerpartners.com and we will arrange introductions.

Have you heard of other good events? Please share in the comments section. Attending? Please share, maybe we will see you there.

March:

  • “Internal Communication Change” : Melcrum Publishing, March 9 – 10 2011, London UK.  After a year of major change, redundancies, restructuring and general upheaval, many organisations now have the sobering challenge of re-engaging employees, keeping the momentum for more change ahead and ensuring that leaders know how to effectively drive that change. We’ve put together an unmissable two days to make sure that as a communicator, you’re ready to face the challenges ahead.

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Change Management videos, webinars and podcasts

These are the best online movies, webinars and podcasts on Change Management that I have found (many recommended by other practitioners through LinkedIn Discussions).  If you know of more great ones please add by commenting.

  • “Change is good … you go first”  (please search “Change is good movie” for some reason I cannot keep this link working)
  • “The Old Change Management”,  Dick Axelrod, related to his book “Terms of Engagement”
  • “The New Change Management”,  Dick Axelrod, related to his book “Terms of Engagement”
  • “Bronze Age Orientation Day” Monty Python here
  • “Piano Staircase – can we make more people use the stairs by making it fun?” The Fun Theory here
  • “Who moved my cheese” the movie here
  • “Did you know?” (re speed of change) here
  • Daryl Conner continues the brilliant work published in his previous books (“Managing at the Speed of Change” and “Leading at the Edge of Chaos”) through webinars here (and on his blog here )
  • “What is Organizational Change Management” Luc Galoppin here (and on his blog here)
  • Peter de Jager has several relevant webinars and podcasts here 

Related to change but not specific to Change Management:

  • “FISH!”  here (re culture)
  • “Lead like the great conductors” Itay Talgam here (re leadership)
  • “How great leaders inspire action” Simon Sinek here (re leadership, vision)

Related Posts:




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