Change Theatre
As the old saying goes, ‘perception is reality’. It’s certainly true, to a point.
When it comes to change in organisations, I believe there is just as much Change Theatre as there is real commitment and intent. While I believe the theatre to be real, I don’t believe it is always intentionally deceptive, just that it’s easier to follow the script and construct the set than it is to genuinely do it.
How can you tell when it’s not just theatre?
the words and actions on the value of change from the top down are in alignment, not just something you read about in a press release
change is championed, especially when it could be perceived as failure
learning is valued and communicated, not the failure
the best ideas, regardless of where they come from or how small they are, get funding and support
programs that support change outlive more than one iteration of the management deck chair shuffle
runway for programs that are successful doesn’t run out because management changes
Change is hard. As a species were hardwired to seek comfort and familiarity. When it comes to deep professional or personal change, we’re far more likely to accept a bad situation we know well over the possibilities we cannot see that come from change.
However hard change is, let’s recognise the theatre for what it is and get real. I’m happy to leave the theatre to actual actors.
