The Journey of Change: Don't Take the Wrong Path

When business leaders and HR executives think about managing change in an organization, they often focus on the new process or system being implemented, the communication regarding
that change, and the management of the overall project.

This can be a big mistake, however. True change management means recognizing and dealing with the journey of the change for you and your staff. Over 70 percent of the time, mergers
and acquisitions fail to achieve their projected economic and market share gains, due to employee resistance. You can put buildings and IT systems together, but putting people together is a challenge. A transition plan needs to be in place before the change is started. The most important work you [HR executives and senior leadership] do is up front. It starts with you— how ready are you and the senior executives for change to occur? If you are not ready, your employees certainly won’t be...

Read more of this feature article in the September issue of "Best Practices in HR" published by Business & Legal Reports Inc.

Company Magazine

I’m really excited about a new venture I’m involved in. TODAY (Monday September 17th, 2007) is the official launch of a new publication called Company Magazine!!!

This print and on-line publication is for Canadian women in business. I’m part of the editorial team of writers and my area to write about is Change. The editor of the magazine is Anne Day, former editor of Today’s Parent. Other contributing writers are Christine Desforges - Art Design, Jaclyn Desforges - Youth Perspective, Sue Edwards - Work-Life, Anne Peace - Relationships and Patti Lovett-Reid - Money.

The magazine is focused on professional, entrepreneurial and would-be entrepreneur women in the GTA. It will be distributed quarterly to 7,000 women. Take a look at see what you think. I welcome ideas for my column on change.

Super Nanny Saves the Day!

Have you seen "Super Nanny", the popular TV series where a ‘real’ English nanny comes to the rescue of distraught parents?

Week after week the nanny smiles as she enters house after house of screaming children and totally dysfunctional parents. The kids are a mess, and the parents - who are the real mess - have all reached their boiling point. You can just imagine these families dialing 911 out of sheer exhaustion.

It’s Super Nanny to the rescue! She sweeps into the situation, disciplines everyone, organizes workable programs, encourages the parents to become "real parents", and in her no-nonsense way - she puts the house right again.

By the end of the program civility is restored and there is hope that the "spoiled" children and irresponsible parents are now on the path to a more healthy life for everyone. Even the children want the Super Nanny to stay with them as the camera fades away and she drives down the street in her tiny British car.

What’s Super Nanny’s secret? I think its discipline mixed with real attention. Oh, not the paddle and punish type of discipline, but a steady, consistent, firm version of rules, schedules and acceptable behaviour. She sets expectations and then lovingly stands behind them. Simple as that.

Sometimes leading people through change is like raising children. They want boundaries, clear expectations and loving attention from those in charge.

What do you think?