A Key Resource for Any Change Leader

The author opens this book with a discussion of the common errors people make in trying to implement organizational change. He then goes on to counteract those errors with his eight-stage process for implementing effective and sustainable change: 1) Establishing a sense of urgency; 2) Creating the guiding coalition; 3) Developing a vision and strategy; 4) Communicating the change vision; 5) Empowering a broad base of people to take action; 6) Generating short-term wins; 7) Consolidating gains and producing even more change; and 8) Institutionalizing new approaches into the culture. The first four stages are intended to defrost a hardened status quo, the next three introduce many new practices, and the final stage grounds the changes into the corporate culture and helps them stick. This book is a comprehensive approach to change management and highly recommended for anyone undertaking a major change effort within an organization.

16 people found this helpful

An oldie but a goodie - and works well on audio

I'd read the hard copy of this several times and wanted to refamiliarise myself with the content before working with a client interstate. I listened to the audiobook on the 13-hour drive to the event and found it clear, engaging and easy to recall (although can't say if that would have been the case if I hadn't already been familiar with the material).
This remains for me one of the benchmark texts on organisational change and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in that area.

11 people found this helpful

Missing Sections

Any additional comments?

The audible book seems to be missing sections, there are quite a few instances where the sentence is cut off and a brand new one with a different topic starts. I am not sure what happened in the editing process

4 people found this helpful

Profound

This needs to be read. I wish I had before taking the effort to implement change in a previous company. Steps 1 & 2 were not satisfied and all efforts by the few involved floundered when they met opposing, complacent forces.

2 people found this helpful

he makes change initiatives sounds futile

he makes change initiatives sound futile. too much about his own consulting experience and we're just supposed to trust his anecdotal evidence.

2 people found this helpful

Cut 6 hours off and get the same info

Felt like they circled the same topics over and over...this could be a pamphlet vs a book and the info that was worth listening to was outdated in my opinion.

1 person found this helpful

Great Read

What made the experience of listening to Leading Change the most enjoyable?

The engaging delivery of the narrator. He was easy to follow and made the listen enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Leading Change?

Understanding the importance of changing cultures in the 21st Century. It is extremely relevant and to hear them speak of this from 1996, shows the vastly changing business environment most firms are challenged with today.

What does Oliver Wyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The story telling comes to life. Story telling is key. Executives remember stories more than some data points. Great story telling in this book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Change is inevitable - learn to adapt!

Any additional comments?

Great book and highly recommended

1 person found this helpful

25 years old, but still relevant

These words may be 25+ years old, but they are still essential to a structured and successful approach to change management. I work in the healthcare industry and in 2023 this approach is never more relevant. I used this approach in my Physician Executive MBA project, and now in my daily work. Rush steps at the risk of short term gains and long term failure.

I Got Here From "Our Iceberg is Melting"

I read this book after I read its distillation "Our Iceberg is Melting". Kotter takes this book and boils it down to a fable involving penguins and applies his prescription to effect change in organization with a backdrop of a group of penguins forced to make a change. It is interesting, but only through "Leading Change" can you understand why the steps are necessary and what will likely result if you try to skip any of them. Change is difficult, Kotter tries to help you understand there is a method that increases the chances of success.

Change must be led, not just managed

An excellent reference source on bringing about change effectively, not just the short term but real long term transformation with the 8 step model to guide. Would have loved to hear or be referred to more real life case studies