Leading Managing Change

In this assignment, leadership will be defined and analysed, then explore different approaches and traits to leadership and its importance in the context of Social housing specifically referencing Cardiff community Housing Associations as case study and then summarise with conclusion.

There are many metaphors for change. I had been challenged one time at my church gathering to view change as a journey, from one place to another. It is easier to focus on where the journey started, and finally where it ended and forget any lessons learned while travelling. I have often heard it said, “When one door closes, another one opens”. What they don’t tell you, is that between the closed door and the open one is a long dark hallway. I think whether in an organization or in my personal life, change can feel like stumbling around in the dark. The familiar is left behind, and we venture into the unfamiliar. I believe the biggest challenge is not getting lost on this

This book presents an array of practical procedures which can assist the prudent practitioner in preparing for change and how to handle all of the up’s and downs which accompany change. The two strengths in this book revolves around asking the right diagnostic questions which pave the way for change and the many characteristic of leaders who lead.

Organizations must respond to their internal and external environment. Therefore, organizational success heavily relies on leaderships ability to manage change. Unfortunately, many leaders struggle to effectively lead change initiatives. In fact, Ashkenas (2013, para. 1) reported 60 – 70% of organizational change initiatives fail to meet their objectives.

The watching of the videos “The Principal Story” and “North Grand” in combination with reading the textbook “Leading in a Culture of Change” by Michael Fullan and our class discussions have provided me with many insights about my future as a high school principal. I have served as a mathematics teacher for almost twenty-three years and have served in many leadership roles throughout my career, however my participation in this course has verified that, although I have a strong foundation of knowledge, I still have much to learn about leading a school. I am coming to understand the position of principal is a monumental task and should be entered with into with much thought. Holding this role as principal requires that I use this position to

Organizational readiness for change is subject to theoretical development and can be extensive. Strategies for creating change come in a various types and promising approaches to deliver forms of change that affect decision making, work flow, staffing, communication and collective behaviors (Metcalf and Benn, 2013). According to Metcalf and Benn (2013) when readiness for change is high, employees show persistence, give more effort and are cooperative the end result is more effective. Environmental changes can be a threat when organization cannot learn to adapt or have the knowledge to stay impartial with operations. Strategies need to be constant with change and adapting to continuous changes

Change is a double-edged sword (Fullan, 2001). Change is a word that might inspire or put fear into people. Leadership is challenging when it comes to dealing with change and how individuals react within the organization to the change. Marzano, McNulty, and Waters (2005) discuss two orders of change in their book School Leadership that Works; first and second. Fullan (2001) also adds to the discussion in his book Leading in a Culture of Change, with regard to understanding change. In Change Leadership, Keagan and Wagner (2006) discuss many factors of change and the systematic approach to change. Change affects people in different ways. Leaders need to be able to respond to the individuals throughout the change process.

The fourth step is the communication of the vision. The message should be powerful and convincing. The management should use the same vision in solving daily problems. The management should respond to the employees concerns and anxieties honestly and try to convince them the change is necessary (Kotter, 1996). The fifth step is empowerment of the change processes. Kotter (1996) asserts that the stage should try to remove the obstacles of change. This is a critical point especially when the organization is implementing new processes. At this point, some people will resist the change processes because they are used to a particular method of doing things. The management can hire change leaders whose role will be studying the organization’s structure, reviewing job descriptions and compensation systems (Kotter, 1996). The sixth step is to create short-term wins. The management should plan for visible short-term performance improvements. The management should analyze the potential benefits and disadvantages of the short-term goals. In some cases, failure in attaining the short-term goals may jeopardize the entire change process. The seventh step in the implementation is to build on the change by planning for visible performance improvements. The management should reinforce the

This research paper will focus on John Kotter’s eight stage process for leading change. Kotter introduced this eight-stage model as a way of looking at the actual stages of the change process itself. This enables us to map our organizational system with the process of change (Leban & Stone, 2008). Without a comprehsive roadmap or model for guiding the change process, organizational leaders may fall short in implementing their strategies for change (Leban & Stone, 2008).

The environment of an individual including culture of the company, management style, level of stress at work, etc…are also very important factors.

Leadership is critical when executing a strategic change initiative. By differentiating leadership and management, leadership styles and the key factors of change we can better understand what should be done to successfully lead change. Success is not obtained through leadership alone but by developing a group of individuals from all levels of the organization who work together as a team. . (Leban and Stone, 2007)

Leadership is a process of influencing activities of a particular group of people with the aim of attaining certain stipulated goals. In defining leadership there is need to consider a particular group, the common goals and the duties that are allocated to specific members of the group depending on their abilities (Fiedler 1976). Leadership therefore cannot successfully occur unless members of the group are given different considerations in terms of personality, traits and responsibilities. In considering leadership, it is important to look at the leader, the group or organization they are leading, the members as individuals and the situation; these are

Goggin and Mitchell (2010) states that “Comparing the various definitions of innovation, it can be seen that there are several common elements what is changed (such as product or process changes); how much is changed (whether it is completely new or only perceived as such); the source of the change (sometimes technology); the influence of the change (for example, its social or commercial value)”

If deacons are to be positive agents for change within the life of the church , they must learn to manage change. Change needs to be managed because it strongly impacts the church. Change tests the fellowship of the church. Since change offers opportunity for disagreement, a church finds out the strength of its fellowship when a proposed change comes up for discussion. This is the reason a building program is a dangerous time in the life of a church. Change can impact the fellowship of our churches negatively unless the process of change received good guidance.

As defined by Katzenbach (1995), change leadership is “the process whereby individuals who lead initiatives that influence dozens to hundreds of others to perform differently—and better—by applying multiple leadership and change approaches.” Leadership alone is defined as setting a direction and developing the strategies necessary to move in that direction – that is, creating and achieving a vision – leadership is thus a process to do with change (Kotter 1999). Change leadership is critically important to the continuing success of organizations everywhere. Tennant Company understands and invests in change leadership by employing a Sr. Organization Development Manager named Annelise Larson, M.B.A. whose efforts includes setting direction, developing strategies, and leading initiatives through organizational change efforts. An interview was conducted with Annelise Larson to discuss and learn about her change leadership abilities. For the purposes of this paper, the interview questions will be shared, a summary will be provided, and five recommendations are made for Annelise Larson as a change leader.