Time for a vocabulary test. What’s the difference between sympathy and empathy? Think about it. If you don’t know the difference, then you’ll gain nothing from this article. The problem is that the two words are now used interchangeably, as synonyms for each other. Even Thesaurus.com thinks they’re the same. But when you look at […]
Organizations would love to have their cake and eat it, too. They’d love to obtain the changes they want without having to change the culture to do it. That’s because changing the culture is so much more difficult and time consuming. In other words, they’d love to get the benefits of change by keeping the […]
Change management has always shared similarities with customer relationship management. They both sought a positive outcome for the instigators, and they both tried to do so with almost a total disregard for anyone other than themselves. True. This is a harsh conclusion to draw. But when you think about the motives behind the desired outcomes, […]
How often have you heard someone say they didn’t want a new computer when you announced that the old ones would be replaced? At the risk of sounding like an ageist, those under 35 probably cheered; those 35-50 may have smiled, and at least some of those who still had a little ways to go […]
The need for organizational change is ongoing. It never stops. It can’t, because just as you get a handle on one thing, something else pops up. It’s like trying to keep flies off your picnic lunch. There’s always one. You have to be flexible. You have to be able to not just respond to the […]
Until quite recently, the expression “As rare as hen’s teeth” meant pretty much never. But several years ago, scientists at two universities (Manchester and Wisconsin) learned how to make them grow. Chickens, it seems, didn’t need dentures after all. That is an especially appropriate metaphor with respect to great managers, because although they can be […]
Nearly three out of four Americans say that they’re bored at work.* They feel that their knowledge, skills and abilities aren’t being used, and that their companies don’t care. To give you an idea of the size of the problem, imagine that instead of boredom, they were all too sick to even show up. The streets […]
Jesse Jacoby
