The Dance of Change: The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations.

Organizations cannot stay competitive today if they resist change. However, a large percentage of change initiatives fail. Companies in the process of transformation may encounter a variety of roadblocks including resistance, fear of the unknown, miscommunication and a lack of momentum. Written

Although the book is divided into four sections, it is not meant to be read straight through. Readers can pick the chapters that pertain to them. Margin notes in blue ink, icons and diagrams are used throughout the book to easily identify and illustrate key points.

The first section introduces the concept of profound change and briefly lists the growth processes, challenges and leadership needed to bring about change.

The second section describes four challenges of initiating change: not enough time, no support, irrelevance and not "walking the talk." Solutions include examining how time is spent and rescheduling duties accordingly, investing early in help, explaining the relevance of change to employees and demonstrating commitment to change, respectively.

The third section describes three challenges of sustaining transformation: fear, assessment and the dichotomy between believers and nonbelievers. Solutions include setting an example of openness, recognizing and appreciating progress as it occurs and respecting people's opinions, respectively.

The fourth section describes three challenges of redesigning and rethinking change: strategy and purpose, governance and diffusion. Solutions include paying attention to subtle shifts in the change process, experimenting with different types of teams and effectively communicating with employees.

The book concludes with a chapter on "leadership in the world of the living."