Change - the Bridge to the Future

Last week I had the pleasure of attending Dr. James Belasco's speech about “Change - the Bridge to the Future”during Saudi Arabian Airlines 2011 Annual Conference.

I tried to summarize as much as I can what I got from him – please feel free to add other points I am sure I may have missed:

·        It is not why change, because we are changing, but to what?

·        Change is a continuous process

·        To continue to succeed we must continue to change

·        People grow through change

·        Change Critical Success Factors:

1.      Success is the enemy - forget past glory - The goal you scored in yesterday's match is not going to help you score a goal in today's match.

2.      It takes the whole team to succeed, just like football is a team sport, business is also a team sport.

3.      Best in Class (BIC) products and best Back office (B/O) systems

4.      Hire smiles, train skills and attitudes

5.      Provide direction - hold accountable.

6.      Speed

·        The three main activities of the Change leader:

1.      Line of sight - Provide reasons for Change

2.      Engage people

a.      Ask about their aspirations

b.      Talk about the common vision

3.      encourage learning

a.      Develop a "To-Learn" list just as you develop a "To-do" list.

·        Tap into the people's energy

·        The leader makes the difference

·        What is the shadow you want to leave behind?

·        "a place that brings out the best in people where people have a sense that what they do matters" - Jack Welch

·        I must be the world I want to see - Gandhi