Embracing Marketplace ChangeShembull

Leaders Who Successfully Embrace Change | Identify Problems

What are the characteristics of leaders who successfully embrace change? Edith Onderick-Harvey wrote in Harvard Business Review about five of them. Since change is constant and necessary, we’re discussing these five characteristics this week.

So far, we’ve looked at sharing a compelling, clear purpose and look ahead and see opportunities. The third characteristic is to seek out what’s not working. There’s always a need for discovering problems, but especially when major change is happening.

I once worked for a new CEO who began well. He visited branches and listened to views from all levels of staff. It didn’t take long, however, before he isolated himself. There were many significant problems he rarely heard about. 

Proverbs 28:26 says, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”

When change is in your midst, make sure your staff has the opportunity and safety to speak up.