Leading Cultural Change

I was totally blown away by this book. It is by far the most readable book on organizational change that I have read this year. It clearly exposes a complex conceptual framework to analyze the cultural context in which change is required and gives a explanation of the levers for change that can be effectively used: language, conflict, leadership behaviors. It highlights the need for generative dialogue for co-construction of a new culture. It draws on ethnography and action research to effect change. On a personal level, the way in which these authors explicitly draw on the social and behavioral sciences for useful and applicable tools and approaches is a vindication of my years of graduate work in sociology. I have been asked for years what was the use of having done all this... and I have often gotten a blank stare when I tell people that the work I do is applied sociology. It is nice to see authors highlighting the contribution of such traditions. Organizational development and change management approaches certainly have their origins in the traditional social science disciplines but was is needed is the transition to intervention which is often lacking in social science discourse. McCalman and Potter make that link explicit.

As a nurse working in management, I have had to change my approach over the years, this was really useful for my last leadership course and navigating stormy seas of change
Another useful book to pop in and out of when needed. Great resource.