The challenge of change is one that has been with me most of my professional life.
Initially it was about making things work in a global marketplace. Getting information from places you had never heard of, understanding what you now had in a larger context, and doing something with the new understanding was the heart of my job.
As organization became more successful at this stage, innovation was the new buzz. Introducing new ideas, reaching beyond the present, and creating capabilities where there had been none was the focus.
With the ebbs and flows of the world’s economy along with recurring crisis, being globally innovative was not enough. One needed more. Expense control, centers of excellence, risk management, service, and quality all came into the picture.
As a result, transformation is a catchall phrase that speaks to the journey from where we were to where we want to be. In this context, it is not enough to say no to bad management, waste, and risky activity. One must embrace more. Putting it bluntly, “it’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something.” (1 Corinthians 14.21)
The question of more is a difficult one. What is it? How does one share whatever it is with others? At what point will my idea become ours?
The answer is still unfolding. So far I know that the question is one that involves the heart and mind. Heart without thinking is simply emotions. Head without heart is ideas waiting for life.
More takes others. At best, you and I hobble along. With the insights, wisdom, and support of our communities, we can see and act. Transformation always starts with one. Next comes the few then the more.
Transformation is a process, not a destination. Speed is not a measure. It is the way we work together, what we accomplish along the way that counts.
Yes, we have hobbled in the past. However, we do not need to remain crippled. We have more.
