SYNOPSIS

Leadership and the Art of Change, gives an insightful look at how to lead change within an organization and most importantly do so with success. The author, Lee Roy Beach begins with a look at Wayne a young executive filled with desire to lead an organization on his own after several years of working closely with CEO’s. Wayne’s struggles are detailed by Beach as examples of how not to lead change in a struggling organization. In the end Wayne leaves the company for other opportunities knowing he had failed but not understanding how to correct his mistakes. This leads the reading into what Beach describes as leaders prime responsibilities in championing change. There are six prime responsibilities. Assessment, leaders must work with others in the organization to specify needed change. Culture, leaders must work with others in the organization to understand core beliefs and values that guide action within the organization and if that culture impedes progress then appropriate change must be made. Vision, leaders must work with others in the organization to create a vision, a story about the future of the organization and to communicate and promote the goals that come from it. Plans, Leaders must work with others in the organization to design a plan to move the organization forward to the envisioned future all the while promoting an understanding of how the plan will work. Implementation, leaders must work with others in the organization to maintain forward movement of the plan, to monitor progress and discover and correct any issues that occur. Follow-Through, leaders must work with others in the organization to institutionalize the changes that have been achieved, helping others accept the fact change is ongoing and is a normal part of organizational development. The critical point to be made from these six responsibilities for a leader is