We talk our way into our beliefs – and this has more impact on strategy than we realize.
I’m reading “Organizational Change” by Laurie K. Lewis (2011), which argues that there are weaknesses in how we currently approach change.
- We focus on the implementers – seeing others as passive onlookers
- We assume that the reactions people have to change are emotional or misguided
- We miss how stakeholders really influence each other
- We rarely ask if the proposed change is a good one
What should we do differently?
We need to see that stakeholders actively influence each other.
In this view, leadership is actually a function of attention.
Leaders gain influence because we pay them attention.
We listen to some people more than others – and their opinions and requests become policies and mandates.
And that doesn’t always turn out well.
Instead, we need communicative processes that engage stakeholders and allow shared understanding to emerge.
If we want change to succeed, we have to take the time to listen to each other.
Handcrafted insight 