Ringing the Changes

Taking up the opportunities that come our way in business creates a degree of anxiety and fear. In moving from the old to the new, and indeed bringing the old along with the new, calculated risks are often required.

Being prepared to work hard and put in the time, money and effort to achieve the desired result is a given. This may not be easy, given any potential uncertainty about the future.

A book that I have found very useful in both understanding the change principles and enacting the change process in business is John Kotter'’s “Leading Change”. His eight stages in the change process are:

1. Establish a sense of urgency
2. Create a guiding coalition
3. Develop a vision and strategy
4. Communicate the vision
5. Empower others to take action
6. Generate small wins
7. Consolidate gains and produce more change
8. Institutionalize new approaches in your culture

His book is well worth the read.