Changes...

At the ASAE 2009 Conference in Toronto I heard Gary Hamel (http://www.garyhamel.com/) speak at the opening general session where he shared some best practices for management and business/organizational structure. To quote Hamel - "how do you thrive in a world that is shaken rather than stirred."  As we all know (and experience on a daily basis), the pace of change today is the fastest that it has ever been in history. The traditional change management model is flawed - it is reactive and often by the time change is being implemented it is too late or in response to a crisis. So how do we change the way we change? According to Hamel, becoming more adaptable involves four steps.

Get over denial. We need to start treating our beliefs as a hypothesis. Listen to the dissidents within our organizations. Challenge industry dogma. The longer we deny there is a need for change, the more expensive adaptation will become.

Create options for renewal. The case for change needs to be better than the case for the status quo.But to get to these ideas, individuals need to be able to express them and organizations need to be able to capture those ideas, and spend a  lot of time diverging before they converge on the idea(s) they will move forward with.

Realign talent and capital. We need to get better at moving resources to support new ideas. If we want to be truly innovative, we need to allow people time to do this and provide the resources to support new idea development.

Change your management principles.How do we build an adaptable/innovative organization? How do we create a workplace that inspires people to bring their best? We need to reinvent the management structures within our organizations. Creating workplaces that inspire people to bring their best.

If you were at the session and heard Gary Hamel speak, or if you have heard him before - let us know what you think about these ideas. Or if you are working in an organization that is adapting and thriving, share how. I look forward to your comments.

Nikki

Comments

[Pamela Brohm]

Speaking of Change; Just released, "Exploiting Chaos" by Jeremy Gutsche, Chief Trend Hunter, TrendHunter.com is a must read for a practical guide to readjusting your thought processes. Very easy to read, written in the newest Gen Y style,you will be introduced to a different way of thinking that can help you identify the opportunities that are out there as a result of the chaotic times we are in.
Gutsche tells us that while "we cannot predict the future, we can predict scenarios and capitalize on disruption". We can "visualise disaster and opportunity" he says.
If you are looking for ways to advance your business, attract new customers and excite and engage your existing ones, read this book. There is definitely a roadmap you can follow to help change the way you look at what is happening in your culture and world. By being able to look at things around you differently, you are changing your perspective; when you do that new ideas abound. Some will not be practical at all, some you will try and they will fail...but ultimately you will implement a new idea, start a new trend and move your business on into the 21st century!