Giacalone to WIFI: Change Is More Than Numbers
FEATURE
Renee Giacalone, who started in the fastener industry with the Aderman Co. rep agency, told the Women in the Fastener Industry that leaders must be aware of the emotional aspect of change.
“There is even a grief process when faced with change,” Giacalone said during the presentation in conjunction with Fastener Tech 15.
Giacalone, a senior manager for Centric Consulting, quoted the late computer scientist and U.S. Navy officer Grace Murray Hopper: “Humans are allergic to change.”
The most dangerous phrase in the language is “We’ve always done it that way.”
“Resistance is normal,” she said. “Resistance is the elephant in the room.”
Leaders need to understand change is “not just numbers – there is an emotional element,” she said.
Company leaders are not just managers, Giacalone told WIFI. Leaders need to establish urgency, challenge status quo, understand the change process, acknowledge that resistance is normal and remove institutional barriers.
“Leadership is not just more management.”
But leaders who create an atmosphere for change are more likely to succeed. She quoted John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Leaders who mentor employees have the benefits of engaged employees, “edge of the wedge” thinking, forward movement and transforming impact via one relationship at a time.
“You don’t have to have a title to be a leader,” Giacalone said.
Leaders who “engage the head and heart find the hands follow.” Even people “in the trenches need to be empowered” to participate.
Leaders must establish urgency, challenge the status quo, understand the change process, acknowledge resistance is normal and remove institutional barriers to change.
Leaders need to accept that 70% of change initiatives fail.
One clue Giacalone offered on creating change: “That which is rewarded gets attention.”
A leader needs to create a “curious culture” by being a role model, nurturing change and rewarding change.
Creating sufficient urgency is vital too.
Inclusion helps spur acceptance of change, she said. “The more people involved results in moving faster and further.” Web: FastenerWomen.com ©2015 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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