Change can flow like water.
While the practitioners and internal leaders I meet are focusing on addressing the difficulties and specifics of change I find myself illustrating how change should work in organizations.
It should flow like water.
That “water” carries the change itself forward as well as communication, collaboration, compromise, structural and procedural adjustment and business relations based on skill and responsibility. When something needs to happen to move toward the end state I make the connections to, in effect, clear the path for the flow.
Taking the analogy further-
The flow will redirect around the rocks if it is powerful enough.
In fact it can cover and inundate the rock when participation is high and the change makes sense.
It will carve new routes forward.
While touching one spot others will be touched since water (and positive sensible, responsible change) is always connected; always moves in patterns.
Does your change act more like a waterfall? Perhaps beautiful and refreshing at first sight, but crushing, devastating and forceful in a single direction upon further inspection…
