- You need to take it out of the box to have fun with it. While some people dread anything new and different, most of us learn to enjoy new ways of doing things. The need for change brings out the creativity built into all of us.
- Change is unpredictable. When you launch a Slinky down the stairs, you never know where it will land. Change programs have the same properties; the final outcome is totally unpredictable because of new forces that come into play.
- Change never happens without the push of people. It takes the energetic push of people to change organizations. Just as someone has to launch the Slinky, it takes courageous people to create bold change initiatives.
- Change is all about creative problem solving. Problem solving gave birth to the Slinky toy in 1943. Naval engineer Richard James was trying to solve a problem of shock absorption using springs. When you see the success of the Slinky toy, think of it as a surprising victory because someone saw potential outside of the obvious.
- Change is noisy and chaotic. The very noise and chaos of the Slinky toy makes it so much fun. The most effective change programs are often the boldest and most chaotic.
From Change Is Like a Slinky—30 Strategies for Promoting and Surviving Change in Your Organization, by Hans Finzel (Northfield Publishing, 2004).
|
