Why is change so hard?

Why is it so difficult to make changes, either personally or in our law firms? To answer that knotty question, I offer to you a couple of good resources. First, a free video webcast from leadershipIQ.com entitled "Why Change Efforts Fail."

Over 70% of change efforts will fail. And failed change is the #1 reason why CEO's get fired.

But do you know why change efforts fail?

Next "Change or Die," that classic article from FastCompany.

All leadership comes down to this: changing people's behavior. Why is that so damn hard? Science offers some surprising new answers -- and ways to do better.

Finally that article was so popular that a book of the same title (yes, Change or Die) was published just last month. Both the book and the article are by Alan Deutschman, senior editor at Fast Company.

Change or Die deconstructs and debunks age-old myths about change and empowers us with three critical keys -- relate, repeat and reframe -- to help us make important positive changes in our lives. Explaining breakthrough research in medicine, science, and business . . . Deutschman demonstrates how anyone can achieve lasting, revolutionary change.

Yes, that glowing language is from the book's cover. I read the book and do recommend it. I have sent a link to the article to friends and colleagues easily numbering in the hundreds; it's an excellent overview of the reasons change is resisted.

In "Change or Die" we learn that the chances of change being made are one in nine (even if our life depends upon the change) and in the webcast we are told that 70% of change efforts fail. Change is not easy for a multitude of reasons. Take a look at the above resources to learn why, and up your odds of making a change in your life or firm.

Comments

[Mark Beese]

Stephanie - thanks for the cheery news.

Mark