Perspectives on Change

Exploring the Human Side of Change

Early Warning Signs Your Change Initiative Is Off Track

One of the questions I hear a lot is: How can you tell when a big project or change initiative is about to derail? Recently, I was reminded of a situation involving a highly controversial organizational change. The planning team had spent months developing a detailed...

What Road Runner Cartoons Can Teach Us About Meetings

So why are so many meetings awful? Not only are they awful and don’t accomplish anything, they’re boring. I’ve been thinking about that lately after coming across the rules Chuck Jones used for the old Road Runner cartoons. There were clear boundaries. Clear...

Stop Selling Change and Start Building Change Readiness

One of the easiest ways to create resistance is to try too hard to “sell” change. People can feel when they’re being pushed. And the harder we push, the more likely they are to lean back. In this video, I share two stories about leaders who took a different approach....

So Why Is “Why” Important in Change Leadership?

Sometimes leaders assume people understand why a change matters simply because leadership understands it. But enthusiasm at the top doesn’t automatically translate to buy-in throughout the organization. In this week’s video, I share a simple but often overlooked...

The Rubber Band Theory of Organizational Change

When people say a project is important, we usually believe them. But then something interesting happens. People arrive late.They leave early.They send substitutes. Years ago, I was facilitating a group working on a major organizational challenge. Everyone agreed the...

When Everyone Agrees — That’s When Leaders Should Pay Attention

One of the most dangerous moments during a big change? When everyone nods. A leader once told me, “No one is pushing back, so I think we’re good.” Two months later, they were stuck. No progress at all. I believe it’s important to invite disagreement. And it is our job...