University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
The Truth About Thriving in Change
Book

The Truth About Thriving in Change

William S. Kane
FT Prentice Hall, 2008
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Editorial Rating

5

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

In business, change is constant. Yet many companies resist it or fail to prepare for it properly. To help remedy this problem, leadership consultant William S. Kane takes established “truths” about how to create meaningful corporate change and attempts to bolt them together in a leadership guide. How did he do? The author gets high marks for his extensive research and excellent sources, including numerous business bestsellers and high-profile contemporary studies of change management, corporate performance and productivity. Despite this hard work, the book tends to be very repetitive and breaks little new ground with its prescriptions: “Have a vision.” “Demonstrate commitment.” “Develop strategic objectives.” “Manage performance.” “Communicate clearly.” While such mileposts may be basic, getAbstract suggests that they will be quite useful to those who want a rundown on the tenets of change management.

Summary

A Checklist for Change

Modern business leaders must cope with uncertainty and rapid change. Is your organization prepared to adapt to meet the new external and internal demands that continually present themselves? It had better be. Otherwise, your competitors will zoom past your firm. Though achieving organizational change isn’t always easy, it can be exhilarating, depending on your individual perspective. And the payoffs can be huge – from increased profits and productivity to better employee engagement and learning, and beyond. So how should your company handle change? What should it do, and what should it avoid? And, as a leader within your organization, how should you deal with change? Start with this checklist for “leading and managing change”:

  • Fully commit to the change.
  • Pinpoint the reason for change by assessing the firm’s “strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats” (SWOT).
  • Answer these core questions: “What is the company’s purpose?” “Where is it headed?” “What must the organization achieve?” and “How will it attain its goals?”
  • Develop a “cultural and operating framework” that supports your company’s values.
  • ...

About the Author

William S. Kane is a speaker, leadership consultant and business change expert. He worked with famous basketball coach John Wooden to develop and present leadership training seminars.

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