I came across this article through Twitter. It’s by Claude DiDomenica, Co-founder, Columnist and Blogmaster of the website Secretary of Innovation. I thought with change so much of what the City of Pensacola is experiencing now —strong mayor, city council rooted in past, city staff resistant to new leadership—-that this article might provide some insight. It’s wordy but here are some of the key points that jumped out at me.
1. Your work is not about you. It’s never been about you.
2. People of good will can have vastly different views of reality. Work with them. People of bad will need to be brought along on a slow curve. Work with them.
3. Change agents need to be aware that that they can be most unwilling to change themselves.
4. You need to embrace and work with those you philosophically oppose the most. Otherwise systemic change will be hard fought and virtually impossible.
5. In the past you were wrong on fundamental issues. You may still be wrong now and in the future. Admitting this aspect of your humanity is not a sign of weakness…
6. Collaboration via principled compromise is key.
7. Demonizing one’s opponents will make you the demon.
8. Change can be generational and incremental.
9. Change via subterfuge is ill advised, short lived, hypocritical and no change at all.
10. Shock tactics may line the coffers but will serve to further divide and alienate many you need to reach.
Read entire article.