Who Killed Change?: Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change

Who Killed Change?: Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change
Ken Blanchard

By the bestselling author of The One Minute Manager, a business parable that teaches organizations to cope successfully with change.Every day organizations around the world launch change initiatives – often big, expensive ones - designed to improve the status quo. Yet 50 to 70 percent of these change efforts fail. A few perish suddenly, but many die painful, protracted deaths that drain the organization's resources, energy and morale.So, Who or what is killing change? That's what you'll find out in this delightful whodunit. The story features a Columbo-style detective named Agent who's investigating the murder of yet another Change. One by one, Agent interviews thirteen prime suspects, including a myopic leader named Vision; a chronically tardy manager named Urgency; an executive named Communication whose laryngitis makes communication all but impossible; and several other dubious characters.The suspects are sure to sound familiar, and you're bound to relate them to your own workplace. In the end, Agent solves the case in a way that will inspire you to become an effective Change Agent in your own organization.

KEN BLANCHARD

bestselling author of The One Minute Manager

who killed change?

solving the

mystery of leading people

through change

with JOHN BRITT PAT ZIGARMI JUDD HOEKSTRA

In loving memory of

Alice Britt Caldwell

1943-2007

and

Gerald A. Embry

1941-2008

Contents

Chapter 1 - Scene of the Crime (#u428102bb-e451-528a-94c5-7f798cce849d)

Chapter 2 - Suspect #1: Culture (#u68944b42-2929-5774-8a23-948588e224a4)

Chapter 3 - Suspect #2: Commitment (#u225fa259-79b2-5979-b2ec-e110d4dca3d3)

Chapter 4 - Reflections on Culture and Commitment (#ucfb841bc-3cd8-51fd-ad08-108a4a3c0ed4)

Chapter 5 - Suspect #3: Sponsorship (#u44a8636a-e529-5768-911e-0bc64569775f)

Chapter 6 - Suspect #4: Change Leadership Team (#ucd7c04fd-1fda-54f8-92a3-0caf76517751)

Chapter 7 - Suspect #5: Communication (#u40b46c42-4910-5b15-a0e2-1ff6a4b82ee1)

Chapter 8 - Reflections on Sponsorship, Change Leadership Team and Communication (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 - Suspect #6: Urgency (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 - Suspect #7: Vision (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 - Reflections on Urgency and Vision (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 - Suspect #8: Plan (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 - Suspect #9: Budget (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 - A Vision of Death (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 - Suspect #10: Trainer (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 - Suspect #11: Incentive (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 - Reflections on Plan, Budget, Trainer and Incentive (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 - Suspect #12: Performance Management (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 - Suspect #13: Accountability (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 - Super Cops and Stakeholders (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 21 - The Autopsy Report (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 22 - Murderer Announced: Invitation Only (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 23 - Change Lives! (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 24 - Helping Change Thrive in Your Organization (#litres_trial_promo)

Resources (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Authors (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by Ken Blanchard (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Scene of the Crime (#uaf53a483-5616-53e9-80b5-6472a876becb)

AGENT Mike McNally’s dark sedan skidded up to the front door of the ACME organization under a stormy night sky. The single blue light rotating on the hood contrasted eerily with the distant flashes of lightning. McNally got out of his car, brushed the ashes from his overcoat and took a last drag on his cheap cigar.

This was his third homicide case this month, all with the same last name—Change. In fact, the investigation of Change fatalities had become his life’s work. A clear pattern to the deaths had emerged over the years. Change would be introduced to an organization with varying degrees of reception. From all appearances Change would begin to integrate into the organization and then, without warning, Change would be found dead, quite often with no apparent injury. The evidence was always scant and a sole perpetrator had never been identified.

This time McNally was determined to catch the killer. He extinguished his cigar, took his notebook from his pocket and slowly walked toward the door.

McNally slipped under the yellow Do Not Cross police tape and walked into the conference room. The room buzzed with activity. A photographer was taking pictures of the deceased from different angles, and people in groups of two and three were giving their opinions on what had happened. At the far end of the room, Change’s body was slumped over the conference table. Just out of reach of his right hand was an overturned glass. The table was still wet from the spill.