%% #📓 #📚 #🔴 %% # The Heart of Change: Real-life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations **Author(s):** [[John Kotter]], [[Dan Cohen]] **Citation:** Kotter, J., & Cohen, D. (2002). *The heart of change: Real-life stories of how people change their organizations.* Harvard Business School Press. --- # ~ 3 Sentence Summary ## Key Takeaways # Notes & Important Ideas ### Chapter > [! abstract] Chapter Summary ## Connections to Other Materials # Personal Reflection & Application ### Influencing Behavior Change Kotter has a compelling take on why so many change efforts fail. The essence of all his work boils down to "People change what they do less because they are given *analysis* that shift their *thinking* than because they are *shown* a truth that influences their *feelings.*" (Kotter & Cohen, 2002, p. 1). Kind of goes along with the popular saying "you can't think your way into right action, but you can act your way into right thinking." Kotter & Cohen (2002) argue that what distinguishes organizations who succeed at large-scale change from those that don't is that, > [!quote] their most central activity does not center on formal data gathering, analysis, report writing, and presentations - the sorts of actions typically aimed at changing thinking i norder to change behavior. Instead, they compellingly _show_ people what the problems are and how to resolve the problems. They provoke responses that reduce feelings that slow and stifle needed change, and they enhance feelings that motivate useful action. The emotional reaction then provides the energy that propels people to push along the change process, no matter how great the difficulties. (p. 8). It's hard enough to get one person to change their behavior, let alone an entire team or organization. I think most leaders or organizations don't take the time necessary to make change work. There seems to be a rush to action without adequately addressing what Cawsey et al. (2016) describe as the Awakening Phase. It can't be skipped; not if you want change to be sustainable. --- # Other References ## Tags *<small>Created on: 2022-11-24</small>* *<small>Last modified on: NaN</small>*