The one sure indicator that a manager has potential for growth is a consistently open attitude to change. Those who will meet the demands of the future with success are those who are today looking for different, improved ways to deal with issues. The tried and true isn’t enough – there has to be a better way!

It’s true – the only constant is change. Change is not smooth and predictable though, it has its own friction points. The rate of change in Information and Technology far out-strip the rate of change in Behavior and its underlying Values. Reaction to change and its demands requires a sound, resilient personal strategy. This is readily recognizable in ourselves and others.

A detailed version of one effective change strategy is available on the Andros Website – Staying in Touch section. To guide you through the processes which are explained more fully there, here’s an ‘executive summary’, categorized by Attitudes and Techniques.

First, the Attitudes:

• Respond to Change - Change is a reality, so deal with it. If you ignore or discount it you can only lose in the long run. Respond in context, flexibly and elegantly.
• Think Survival - Only the organization can be ‘secure’ and this is achieved by looking out for ‘Number 1’ – the customer. There’s real strength in unity, so work together.
• Move with Purpose - Plan the work, then work the plan. Plan continuously, collaboratively and flexibly with frequent ‘reality checks’ to keep you on course.
• Keep a Steady Course - Don’t fear emotion, just use it to generate action. Keep your eye on the horizon marker and encourage clear, positive, energizing communications.
• Let Behaviors Evolve - Adaptability is the key to success, so don’t do what you do best – do what is needed. Good people are an encumbrance if they cannot change.
• Negotiate Loyalty - Value and learn from the past, but don’t live there. The only true loyalties are to organizational Vision, Mission and Values, all of which change.
• Add Value to Life - It’s change that keeps us young and vital – consider children! Life is enriched by learning, discovery and new realities, so seek them out consistently.

Now the Techniques:

• Focus on Opportunities - Every challenge contains hidden opportunities which can be found by those who are optimistic and positive before they deal with limitations.
• Make Room for Initiative - The big picture will draw out suggestions, and people will work better within guidelines than when attempting to comply with more rigid rules.
• Solutions, not Problems - Don’t ask, “Who moved the cheese?” – go find it! Channel the collective stress onto goal-focused actions. Harness the passions surrounding you.
• Embrace Considered Risk - There’s no security in standing still, you’re in the middle of a freeway. Share risks and be ready to take a different direction when indicated.
• Unlearn and Eliminate - Make room for new learning, working to create space in your thinking and actions. Simply ‘Faster, Better, Higher’, this spawns world champions.
• Cope with Errors - All errors are not equal. Creative errors have learning points which can make a real difference to your future. Careless errors cost everyone.
• Strive for Elegance - Change the way you see things before you change the way you do things. Always reduce before expanding, and simplify rather than compound.
• Promote Meaningful Successes - Focus on the goal, not on the task. Encourage intra-personal competition, reward expressions of Value and achievement of desired results.

A Personal Change Philosophy / Strategy Regarding Your ATTITUDE Towards Change

1. Respond to Change . . .
   • Take positive action for control, like accelerating into a curve when driving.
   • Respond flexibly; trying to understand completely or master it all takes time.
   • Be prepared - unlearn and eliminate waste to make room for new methods.
   • Simplify every system - make every process elegant - increase responsiveness.
   • Go 'horizontal' in real time - improve the service chain flow rate continuously.
   
   
2. Think Survival . . .
   • No individual can be secure in an insecure organization.
   • Look out for Number One - the customer, without whom we have no business.
   • There's strength in unity, which is achieved through shared purpose and standards.
   • When the organization is under attack, circle the wagons - protect one another.
   • Only a willing market can ensure your survival and success - nurture it.
   
   
3. Move with Purpose . . .
   • Proper planning is vital, so design the processes in advance, and then practice.
   • Continuous, participative planning eliminates inefficiencies in application.
   • Plan flexibly - with contingencies, using analysis for confirmation, not initiation.
   • It's easier to change direction if you are actually moving when you try.
   • Take frequent learning breaks to check your impetus / momentum as you go.
   
   
4. Keep a Steady Course . . .
   • Emotions generate action - they are neither to be feared nor avoided.
   • Eye on the horizon marker - use Vision/Mission/Values to stay on a flexible course.
   • Use the focus of Strategic Objectives and CSFs to make course changes.
   • Rally your resources to current Objectives and values - seek out contributions.
   • Focus on clear, positive and energizing communications among all contributors.
   
   
5. Let Behaviors evolve . . .
   • The key to organizational and individual success is adaptability.
   • Don't do what you do best - do what is needed.
   • The right response to the wrong question earns no brownie points.
   • Even the best people are an encumbrance if they cannot change.
   • Collective talent is a better and safer investment than individual talent.
   
   
6. Negotiate Loyalty . . .
   • Only the Vision, Mission and Values deserve your loyalty - and these can change.
   • Value, honor and learn from the past, but do not spend too much time there.
   • Respect today's heroes, but invest time and effort identifying tomorrow's.
   • Defending the past will not protect you from the future
   • "First to thine own self, be true," . . . then canst thou benefit anyone.
   
   
7. Add Value to Life . . .
   • Life is enriched by learning, discoveries, new realities and breakthroughs.
   • Curiosity cures the restless soul - learn to ask questions, seek out the new truths.
   • Worry is the interest you pay on problems that have not yet happened.
   • Dealing constructively with change keeps you young and vital.
   • Follow your heart, don't worry - and have fun.

Now for some useful TECHNIQUES

1. Focus on the Opportunities . . .
   • In every challenge or problem there are hidden opportunities - seek them out.
   • First identify all the 'possibilities' and then concern yourself with any applicable limitations.
   • Most successful solutions start as 'optimistic viewpoints' which are then tamed by reason.
   • "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right" (Henry Ford).
   • Approach every challenge with a "life wish" - it may work, and it beats the alternative!
   
   
2. Make Room for Initiative . . .
   • Ensure the 'big picture' is in everyone's view - draw attention to it continuously
   • Set allowable parameters for action - define the 'tripwires', especially for customer contact.
   • Recognize and reward all initiatives within the context of current Objectives / Standards.
   • Reward proper initiatives, punish lack of response, and reinforce positive role models.
   • Make an open effort to learn from every experience - learn together and continuously.
   
   
3. Solutions, not Problems . . .
   • Don't ask, "Who moved the cheese?" Go find it! Instead of 'bitchin' - pitch in!
   • Don't get mad, get going - harness and apply all available passion, but with discretion.
   • Channel all the collective stresses through goal-focused actions and standards.
   • Watch the road ahead (eighty percent) and the rearview mirror (twenty percent).
   • Passion is precious - but it needs to be focused to be of constructive use.
   
   
4. Embrace Considered Risk . . .
   • The sure way to lose is to do nothing - there's no security in standing still.
   • Those who succeed didn't need permission; those who fail must show they have learned.
   • Only those on the edge, which is risky, can see the new opportunities for what they are.
   • Innovate, share the load, share the risk, then move.
   • Experience > Errors > Learning > Success!
   
   
5. Unlearn and Eliminate . . .
   • Champions of the 'status quo' may be strangling new growth and needed change.
   • Deliberate, selected destruction is vital to growth - the old must make room for the new.
   • Unlearning is more difficult, but more valuable than learning and often must precede it.
   • Test every 'essential' practice by beating it against the rocks of reality - does it survive?
   • What doesn't kill me, strengthens me (Nietzche)
   
   
6. Coping with Errors . . .
   • All errors are not equal - creative errors teach lessons but careless errors are an anathema.
   • Individuals and organizations must learn from their own experience in order to adapt.
   • Errors and mistakes are more damaging the longer they remain unchallenged.
   • Plan ton allow a reasonable amount of failure, room for experimentation and growth.
   
   
7. Strive for Elegance . . .
   • Change the way you see things before you attempt to change the way you do things.
   • Tradition and precedent, in a rapidly changing environment, has limited currency.
   • Deflection, achieved by changing your stance, takes less time and energy than confrontation.
   • Strip away and go lean before adding and/or expanding - simplify rather than compound.
   • Occam's Razor - the most simple answer is usually the preferred one.
   
   
8. Promote Meaningful Successes . . .
   • Focus on the goal, not on the task - keep the goal in the context of the big picture.
   • Emphasize the goals, values and standards of performance, not the methods.
   • Manage the interconnects, the value-adding interfaces, and resolve the dis-connects.
   • Encourage intra-personal, versus interpersonal competition, and stress personal integrity.
   • Recognize and reward every success without delay, regardless of size and/or impact.