I say that the only reason I write is to help someone else avoid the mistakes I’ve made.

Yeah, I am a complete altruist. I have virtually no ego. Yeah, right.

OK, I admit, like every non-fiction writer I think I have something of value to communicate and like every person who shares his or her experiences I think they may be relevant to others. Finally, like all storytellers, I enjoy the telling of the tale. So sue me.

Maybe though, I might help one person avoid some of the yawning caverns I have stepped into.

For example, It took me a long time to learn that consulting is about change. Duh.

Also, I used the words manager and leader interchangeably. I later learned that while they may be found in the same person these are different roles requiring different skillsets in response to different circumstances.

• Managers ensure the work gets done and develop others to get the work done in relatively steady state circumstances.
• Leaders are required in abnormal circumstances, emergencies, war, change. They make sure that people know the right direction and attract people to follow them. “This way! Follow me!”

I used to think that people were afraid of change. That’s why they resisted. Of course, that isn’t true. If it were, no one would ever leave home, get married, have children, or immigrate across oceans to a new life in a place where they didn’t speak the language or have known prospects.

Those are all chosen changes. Choice turns out to be the key. If you choose, you find a way. If someone else chooses, “like that what’s ‘is name, consultant, Culler, if he chooses and imposes his change on me, you can bet I’m going to resist.” 

I learned that there are different kinds of change:

• Innovation – out of the box thinking followed by disciplined execution.
• Improvement – simplification, measurement and focused practice
• Integration – getting everyone to do the same thing at the same time, like post-acquisition when two companies must become one.

I slowly learned that change craft has many different tools, change levers that can move world’s  ̶  vision, strategy, structure, measures, climate, culture and teams. I also learned through painful experience that a change leader can use the wrong lever, or misapply a tool and really mess up.

I learned, from giants of organizational development and from ordinary people, what traits and skills to work on myself and to help others develop. Mostly, I learned that in a change, everyone changes, especially the leader, and that “Change Leader? Who me?” is a particularly clueless response.

Is that all that’s in the book? Well, no, not everything. There’s a lot more detail on these concepts and on levers, traits and skills.

And then, there are the stories.

Change Leader? Who Me? Hard-Earned Wisdom for Those New to Leading Change, is coming soon. How soon? Maybe days, but certainly not too many weeks.

In the meantime, here is a picture of the front cover designed by Lisa Monias of South River Design Team. I think it captures the hot and cold, fire and ice of change. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but, let’s face it, we all do. I hope my book lives up to its cover.