Extraordinary Response

urgency, complacency, turnaround management association, lean thinking, six sigmaOften, our best moments are during times of trial. Indeed, what we remember most and what is most inspiring are not the scores of naysayers that exclaim “it’s dark, it’s dark” to describe the gloom that is all around us, but the humble, smug, and steady person that lights a candle so that others can see.

Neal Maxwell said this best:

urgency, complacency, turnaround management association, lean thinking, six sigmaOften, our best moments are during times of trial. Indeed, what we remember most and what is most inspiring are not the scores of naysayers that exclaim “it’s dark, it’s dark” to describe the gloom that is all around us, but the humble, smug, and steady person that lights a candle so that others can see.

Neal Maxwell said this best:


Complacency, Urgency, and Change

urgency, complacency, turnaround management association, lean thinking, six sigmaJohn Kotter makes a good case that urgency is the key ingredient in any organizational transformation.  Conversely, the lower the urgency, the higher the likelihood that the firm will collapse or fail or not transform in a way that will enable it to win in a changing marketplace.  Kotter does something else that is interesting: he defines True Sense of Urgency, Complacency, and False Sense of Urgency.  This was very instructive.

urgency, complacency, turnaround management association, lean thinking, six sigmaJohn Kotter makes a good case that urgency is the key ingredient in any organizational transformation.  Conversely, the lower the urgency, the higher the likelihood that the firm will collapse or fail or not transform in a way that will enable it to win in a changing marketplace.  Kotter does something else that is interesting: he defines True Sense of Urgency, Complacency, and False Sense of Urgency.  This was very instructive.


A Transformation Story

adoption, International, Domestic, Waiting, child, baby, infant, adoption, adopt, adopting, adoptionWe all love stories.  Stories have characters that we relate to or hate, there’s drama, heroes and villains, and the best stories stir the emotion.  The same goes for companies and their stories – all companies have a story.  Most stories are in-process still, whereas some have ended, such as the story of Enron.  What is your story?  If your company is amidst a transformation or a turnaround, what does that story look like?  What chapter are you in?

adoption, International, Domestic, Waiting, child, baby, infant, adoption, adopt, adopting, adoptionWe all love stories.  Stories have characters that we relate to or hate, there’s drama, heroes and villains, and the best stories stir the emotion.  The same goes for companies and their stories – all companies have a story.  Most stories are in-process still, whereas some have ended, such as the story of Enron.  What is your story?  If your company is amidst a transformation or a turnaround, what does that story look like?  What chapter are you in?


Why Transformation Efforts Fail

adoption, International, Domestic, Waiting, child, baby, infant, adoption, adopt, adopting, adoptionTransformation or Change efforts sometimes fail.  In fact, the numbers are staggering – most of them fail.  While the root cause is wide and varied, there are general themes or characteristics that are important to keep in mind in your own transformation efforts.  Think of these as symptoms also — that a failure is around the corner if you see these characteristics creeping-up or, better yet, you can course-correct if there’s still time.

adoption, International, Domestic, Waiting, child, baby, infant, adoption, adopt, adopting, adoptionTransformation or Change efforts sometimes fail.  In fact, the numbers are staggering – most of them fail.  While the root cause is wide and varied, there are general themes or characteristics that are important to keep in mind in your own transformation efforts.  Think of these as symptoms also — that a failure is around the corner if you see these characteristics creeping-up or, better yet, you can course-correct if there’s still time.


Maintain Forward Tension

One principle in Wing Chun is the maintaining of forward tension.  To explain, I’ll draw the distinction between Tension and Energy and show how this principle in Wing Chun can be applied to Change Management.

Tension is a type of Energy

A Wing Chun maxim goes as follows:

soft and relaxed strength will put your opponent in jeopardy

One principle in Wing Chun is the maintaining of forward tension.  To explain, I’ll draw the distinction between Tension and Energy and show how this principle in Wing Chun can be applied to Change Management.

Tension is a type of Energy

A Wing Chun maxim goes as follows:

soft and relaxed strength will put your opponent in jeopardy