Rejecting binary thinking about change

One of the highlights of today was a great conversation with my friend and colleague Martin Price.  Martin and I always have entertaining discussions, and we started this morning getting 'hot under the collar' about gross generalisations that we hear and read being made about planned change.   We were agreeing that it's really sloppy and pointless to talk about changes been a success or a failure; or about leaders being great or poor; or about communication during change being effective or ineffective.   In my experience, life in general and planned change in particular is complex, nuanced and ill-explained by 'black or white' generalisations.

In change we search for benefit to be created, recognised and used to create even further value; we aspire to be leaders who inspire and build commitment, yet who do so whilst not shirking the most difficult of topics; we aim not so much to communicate, but to connect with the many people who have a stake in the change.

In striving to create benefit, lead courageously and connect with people, there is no black or white, only many and varied shades of grey.