Why “Top down” transformation gets derailed

When it comes to change most leaders believe it is their responsibility to decide on a plan of action and then “sell” employees on the “rightness” of following their plan.  Senior leaders huddle up, often with some outside “Expert”, and decide on a new direction.  Once THEIR plans are complete they TELL the team and expect everyone to get on board.  Seventy percent of the time this approach to change fails miserably.  Lasting transformation within complex social systems cannot and should not be dictated from the top down or outside in.  The following Seven “Red Shoe Snapshots” will help you keep your “transformational travels” right on track.

1-No news is not good news

2-Top down initiatives are viewed as personal attacks

3-Transformers resist positional power

4-The best solutions come from within

5-Success lies not in the validity of our answers, but the quality of our questions.

6-Lasting change is not about revolution but evolution

7-To reduce stress increase control