Change: Mistaking Motion for The Right Action

This article is the thirty-sixth in a series about Change from Steve Roesler.

"Never mistake motion for action."
--Ernest Hemingway

It didn't start off this way, but I may end up being the poster boy for Hemingway's one-liner.

This article was begun a little more than 24 hours ago with the expectation that it would be knocked out in about a half-hour. Then the phone started ringing, emails began dinging, and those darned clients (customers)  got in the way of a perfectly relaxing day :-)

Attitude vs. Action generated such a terrific conversation that I sat down to think of something pithy as a follow-up. No sooner did I realize I was pith-less than a real-life client emailed from Turkey to rant about a corporate change initiative:

"...it seems to me, that we are focused on activities that should result in Cultural Changes without being specific about the vision of what we want the new culture to be. Additionally, where is the list for the "detail people" regarding what they should stop doing and what they should start doing that will embrace the new culture?"

Visions of Forests and Trees

1. He can't see the forest for the trees (Needs big picture context, or the ultimate vision, in addition to actions)

2. Many of his people need to see the trees but are hearing about a forest called Change (Need to know the five things  to do today to be considered successful; 'keep your vision to yourself' :-)

Isn't this a textbook case of Big Picture vs. Detail individual needs?

Let's be honest: We all prefer to operate out of our personal comfort zones. So if you are a Big Picture person, that's where your inherent emphasis will be. The same is true for the "Here Are The Facts" folks.

But we boost our effectiveness when we acknowledge how "the other half lives" and give them what they need to make the journey. (When we don't, we're actually mistaking motion for action).

How's that working in  your organization?

Comments

[Karin H.]

Hi Steve

"Pithy" = brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible.

(Had to look that up, learned a new word today ;-))

But seriously, the meaning of the word - if applied correctly - generates the result you're after me thinks.

(Or do I see too many forests? - Could be, because at the moment I'm attaching an acorn to over 250 'marketing' cards: Grow your own Oak floor;-))

Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specailly in business)

[peter vajda]

Hi, Steve,

interesting storm clouds....for me, metaphorically addressing what happens when folks are working at cross purposes, with tunnel vision or only at the 50,000 foot level when the winds of change are blowing.

[David Zinger]

Steve:

I guess the message is we should not pith people off in change.

Seriously, I like how you believe we need to braid the perspectives together to create change.

David

[Steve Roesler]

Karin, I'll bet no one ever accused you of only being in motion. It sounds as if your creative juices are flowing again!

Is there an acorn for linoleum?

[Steve Roesler]

Hi, Peter,

Fascinating that the photo prompted the meaning for you. A wonderful example of the power of images.

[Steve Roesler]

David, I was wondering who would be the first...as usual, you didn't disappoint.

[Karin H.]

Hi Steve

The creative juices you speak of is actually the result of action in motion ;-) Real team-work this one: me kind of thinking further on an 'old' idea of Richard C, Richard C giving me a great hand in adapting my draft text into a great piece of copy-writing and Danny from Printing.com Ashford turning everything into the most wonderful promotion card (and supplying me with oh so handy quick-dots to glue the 'hand collected from a natural forest locally' acorn to the cards).

As for acorn for linoleum, only a 'plastic' one comes to mind ;-)

Karin H.

[Steve Roesler]

I like the "action in motion" phrase, Karin. And it is always encouraging to me--and a good example to everyone--when I hear about you talk about your "team" of people.

Those of us who who do a lot of solo work would do well to surround ourselves with the kind of team that you have put together.

[Karin H.]

Hi Steve

Having a team around is great and very valuable. Now before I venture into a whole comment about networks etc lets just say surrounding yourself with a team like I've 'found' and 'benefit' from almost every week is down to Givers Gain ;-)
(THE catch-phrase of BNI, and if you follow that n(m)otion all kinds of profitable - in more ways than one - and teamwork action will be your reward).

Karin H.

[robert edward cenek]

Sounds to me like its a woefully inarticulated change effort??

robert edward cenek
Cenek Report
www.cenekreport.com

[robert edward cenek]

Sounds to me like its a woefully inarticulated change effort??

robert edward cenek
Cenek Report
www.cenekreport.com

[Steve Roesler]

Bob, it's kind of a hunker-down-and-follow-what -I-say-I-need change effort.

[Steve Roesler]

Karin, the idea that Givers Gain is a longstanding one; and one that, in my experience, holds true more often than not. There is something attractive about people who are willing to reach out and help others. And the attraction is deeper than physical appearance or material wealth.

Thanks for continuing the conversation...