Leadership & LearningLEADERSHIP & CHANGE

Mimi Michailidi

What have we learned so far?

Reality is a patchwork of differentperspectives

Half-full or Half-empty?

The Pessimists

The Optimists

It can take only one person to see a commonly viewed reality in a completely different way --

This person saw the invisible.

We need people who can detect the invisible. These people will say where the REAL problem is and be ready to BREAK the system into pieces &

put everything together into a whole NEW REALITY.

We need people who can detect the invisible. These people will see where REAL problem is and be willing to BREAK the system into pieces & put everything together into a whole NEW REALITY.

They will be the LEADERS of change.

Leaders see Change*

*( …where change is least visible)

Leaders see Change*

*(…where change is least visible)

Leaders see Change*

*(…where change is least visible)*(…where others just see a problem)

Leaders see Change*

*(…where change is least visible)*(…where others just see a problem)*(…because they have learned to let go)

"Unless you are prepared to give up something valuable you will never be able to truly change at all, because

you'll be forever in the control of things you can't give up."

— Andy LawCreative Company

Their secret:

Leaders welcome change

…when others are afraid of it

…when others are afraid of it

• People who think that change is too hard

• People who have settled for what they have

• People who have tried and failed• People who just don’t care

…when others are afraid of it

"Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.“

— James Belasco and Ralph StayerFlight of the Buffalo (1994)

Leaders prepare change "An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way rapidly converting its opponents; it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning."

—Max PlanckThe Philosophy of Physics, 1936

Leaders prepare change…within their teams • By inspiring shared visions and

values• By promoting teamwork• By teaching them to be creative• By enabling action• By preparing them for the

unexpected

The Recipe of Change?

• An uplifting vision• People who care to change • Courage, courage, courage• …And a crisis to stimulate change

In every crisis lies the seed of opportunity

Why is a crisis an opportunity for change ?- It’s the only time when people are ready to listen- The costs have gone up so high that change looks

vital- People are more productive in an environment of

competition- The most creative ideas come up under pressure- The crisis unites people behind a common goal

- Many people had to die from cold before our ancestors started using animal fur as clothes.

- The biggest fights for liberty, democracy, human rights have been won after bloody conflicts.

- Some companies need to see their profits go down before discussing change.

- The Tillamook residents in Oregon had to learn from a state report card for their terrible teen pregnancy rates in order to take action.

We all can be leaders of change in our jobs, our families, our communities…

As long as we have our minds open and a vision to guide our way