Читать книгу Who Killed Change?: Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change - Ken Blanchard - Страница 9

SPENCE Sponsorship was a walking advertisement in a men’s fashion magazine. From his shined shoes to his perfect hair, he hadn’t missed a single detail. Agent McNally glanced at his own wrinkled shirt, loosened tie and dull black shoes, and made a mental note that he could not allow himself to dislike Sponsorship because of his image. Dispassionately, McNally asked, “So, what do you do here in the organization?”

“One of the main jobs I have,” replied Sponsorship, “is to be the executive sponsor of a Change’s major effort here and ensure we have a Change Leadership Team that works well together. What I mean is that for Change to have a major success at ACME, there must be one person—someone in an influential position—who takes what I call ownership of the Change. To that end, our organization is structured so that I am the one to whom most departments eventually report. Granted, I have directors and managers who take care of the day-to-day operations. But the staff here is keenly aware of my position. If I endorse, shall we say, a project, staff members know that it’s going to happen—one way or another.”

McNally took a mental note that in Sponsorship’s opening discourse he used the word I six times in six sentences. “So how many Change initiatives have you had in the past year?” asked McNally.

Sponsorship did not hesitate. “Four,” he said.

With virtually no attempt to mask his sarcasm, McNally asked, “And other than relying on your status and position, what did you actually do that might be perceived as true sponsorship?”

Sponsorship looked puzzled and responded, “I organized meetings and communicated my expectations.”

There was a long pause. Finally McNally prompted, “And what else?”

“I have directors and managers to take it from there.”

“How well did you know Change?”

“Oh, we were good friends. We played some golf and every once in a while we would get together for a game of racquetball.”

“What about your professional relationship?”

“Certainly at these meetings I would put Change front and center. I would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that I was behind Change one hundred percent.”

“Then you would let your directors and managers take it from there?” McNally asked.

“Well, yeah. To deal with Change is one of the things I pay them for.”

“Let me ask you a question,” McNally said. “Married?”

“No.”

“All right. Let’s say you have a girlfriend who one day tells you she loves you. After that day, you barely talk except when you say hello as you pass in the hall. Is that a relationship you think is going to work out?”

“Well, no, probably not.”

“Do you see the connection?” asked McNally.

Sponsorship, looking puzzled, did not respond.

McNally lost his patience. “Look, you cannot expect Change to be successful based on putting him front and center in a few meetings!” Weighing his words carefully, McNally stood up and began pacing the room. “You’re overestimating the power of your words. As Sponsorship, you must do more than introduce Change. You must be visible and supportive way beyond the introductory meetings. Your actions are much more powerful than your words. You must remain connected to Change throughout the change process. It’s your role to get Aidan Accountability and Isabella Incentive involved. What you reinforce is three times more powerful than what you say. Do you understand?”

McNally looked over at Sponsorship, who seemed mesmerized by his own reflection in the window of the interrogation room.

“Do you understand?” repeated McNally, raising his voice.

Sponsorship turned and looked at him.

“I never thought that much about what I had to do to help Change succeed,” he replied with sincerity in his voice. “I guess I thought that because of my position in the organization, I could get people to buy in to Change by just making an announcement.”

Spence Sponsorship’s comments were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. Much to McNally’s chagrin, Sponsorship took the call and left the conference room.

McNally sighed. It had been almost impossible to get on this suspect’s calendar and McNally had no idea when he’d see him again.