Dancing with Disruption: Leading Dramatic Change During Global Transformation
Jeff Skipper
Peacebridge Publishing (May 2023)
“There will be trouble ahead…”
Long ago, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. observed, “For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn’t give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have.” I was again reminded of that as I began to work my way through Jeff Skipper’s book. It is by no means a definitive study of the immensely complicated process of achieving organizational transformation. There are no, head-snapping revelations in it, nor does he make any such claim. Another recently published book, Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital, co-authored by Eric Lamarre, Kate Smaje, and Rodney Zemmel, offers a far more comprehensive examination of that process.
Skipper focuses his and his reader’s attention on a dozen (rather than a covey of seven) strategies and devotes a separate chapter to each. (Long ago I concluded that, in essence, strategies are “hammers” that drive “nails” (tactics) in order to achieve the given objectives.) These are the strategies, to which Skipper devotes a separate chapter, and each is now accompanied by a comment of mine:
1. Start at the End: Set a Clear Goal
Comment: I agree with Simon Sinek that every change initiative “must begin with WHY?”
2. Identify All Stakeholders: Expand the Circle
Comment: The wider and deeper the buy-in is, the greater the chances of success.
3. Access Impacts: The Highs and Lows of Change
Comment: Think in terms of four domains: get to and stay in High Impact/High Value.
4. Develop a Change Plan: A Tactical Buffet
Comment: Keep in mind that change is the only constant, and that’s especially true of plans.
5. Lead the Charge: Avoid Divided Loyalties
Comment: I agree with Hillel the Younger, “If not you, who?”
6. Executing the Plan Is Revising the Plan
Comment: See my comment for #4.
7. Communicate Effectively: Too Much Data and Not Enough Wisdom?
Comment:
8. Enable Change by Removing Barriers
Comment: I think this must precede #6.
9. Respond to Resistance: When Coercion Is the Best Option
Comment: I highly recommend diplomacy whenever possible: let opponents have it YOUR way.
10. Measure Success: Are We There Yet?
Comment: Sometimes baby steps are better than giant steps. Keep moving in the right direction.
11. Sustaining Success: Doubling Down on Change
Comment: Do more of what works well and learn why other initiatives don’t.
12. Wrap It Up: Closing Means Cleaning Up
Comment: Major change initiatives are always messy. If ypours are not, rethink both the WHY and HOW of your WHAT.
With regard to this book’s title, I think it correctly suggests that being in partnership with disruption (e.g. creative destruction) is better, far better, than to be controlled by it.
Here is a portion of Seth MacFarlane’s lyrics for a song I always associate with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire:
“There may be trouble ahead
But while there’s moonlight
And music and love and romance
Let’s face the music and dance.”
Jeff Skipper can help leaders in almost any organization — whatever its size and nature may be — to not only face but [begin italics] leverage [end italics] disruption to great advantage in months and years to come.
Here are two concluding suggestions: Highlight key passages, and, keep a lined notebook near at hand while reading Dancing with Disruption in which you record your comments, questions, action steps (preferably with deadlines), page references as well as your responses to the questions posed and to lessons you have learned. (Pay close attention to the “Takeaways for Your Change Initiative” at the end of chapters.) These two simple tactics will facilitate, indeed expedite frequent reviews of key material later.