Managing at the Speed of Change: How Resilient Managers Succeed and Prosper Where Others Fail

by Daryl R. Conner

This classic, newly updated, is an indispensable source for anyone–from mid-level managers to CEOs–who must execute key business initiatives quickly and effectively. Once groundbreaking and now time-honored, Managing at the Speed of Change has helped countless business leaders learn how to orchestrate transitions vital to their organizations’ success. Rather than focusing on what to change, this book’s aim is far more It shows readers how to change.Daryl R. Conner, founder and chairman of the consulting firm Conner Partners, is a leading expert on change management. He has served as “change doctor” for clients that include non-profit enterprises, government agencies and administrations, and Fortune 500 companies in an array of industries such as Abbott Laboratories, PepsiCo, American Express, Catholic Healthcare West, JPMorgan Chase, and the U.S. Navy.Based on Conner’s long-term research and his decades of consulting experience, Managing at the Speed of Change uses simple, easy-to-understand language and elegant visuals to explore the dynamics of change, and in doing so, teaches readers why major change is difficult to assimilate what distinguishes resilient individuals from those who suffer future shock how and why resistance forms how people become committed to change why organizational culture is so important to the success of change the roles most central to change in organizational settings why powerful teamwork is at the heart of achieving change objectives, and how to foster itIn this pioneering book, updated for the twenty-first century, Conner demonstrates how both individuals and organizations can develop the capacity not only to endure change but to thrive on it.From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Business, Management, Leadership, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 1993

Reviews

[Sujata Sahni]

Because you cannot see the sun, you assume it won't hurt you. But like the sun, change can burn you even when you do not see it.

Our lives are most effective and efficient when we are moving at a speed that allows us to appropriately assimilate the changes we face. If the rate is optimum, we can easily assimilate the transition in our lives however if we get overwhelmed whether the life change is negative or positive, then there is an opportunity to be gripped by the beast. That is when one starts depicting dysfunctional behaviour. The high cost of assmilation includes reduced intellectual energy, increased psychological stress and diminished physical stamina.

The head and heart have to work in synergy during change and naiive arrogance increases the impact when you get slammed by change. The beast is the fear and anxiety within us as we encounter the significant, unanticipated changes that shatter our expectations. Major change minimizes our ability to dominate events. The ultimate nighmare is an inability to assimilate change in a world transforming itself faster by the minute.

It is not so much the surprises in life that are so dibilitating. The truly crushing force is being surprised that you are surprised Future shock is the shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time. It occurs when people are asked to absorb more disruption than they have the capacity to take in. It may not only result from dangers but also from missed opportuities.

In order to overcome the beast one has to be ready, willing and able to manage assimilation of change at the optimum speed. Willingness and ability depict two links of a chain and as the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

[David Shechtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great material. A little choppy to read.

[Robert Bogue]

It’s the early 1990s, and corporate cultures, and learning how to cope with increasing degrees of change, are becoming a thing. That’s when Managing at the Speed of Change: How Resilient Managers Succeed and Prosper Where Others Fail was first released. It’s a window in time to the leading edge of the change that we’re all now fully immersed in. Daryl Conner had been consulting and studying organizations and change for a few decades when the book came out, and he recorded his observations about how organizations change – and more importantly what derailed those changes.

Read more

[Cameron Copper · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just wasn't for me. Each tenet has 7 sub-subjects with 5 variations. It gets too wrapped up in these complicated structures and social formulas when there is a much simpler way to describe the concepts.

Perhaps this book was actually geared towards organizational change management specialists that think this way all of the time, but there were so few tangible examples of any of the principles, I would find it shocking if most people were seeing meaningful changes to their businesses based solely on this book.

It was an absolute bear of nearly 300 pages to get through and I never found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I would love to hear Conner speak in person to see if his on-stage persona is better than the image I have after finally finishing this book.

[R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book that hung around in my Kindle FOREVER. IT was not a great book. It was one that I picked up on a whim because it was either free or something like $0.99. If it was $0.99 I would say that I overpaid. Do not pay for this book. There is really nothing worth paying for in it. Get it for free somehow or just don't read it and move onto some other better books on the topic.

[Shamsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read about how to manage change at large institutions. Even though the book was written a while back, all the lessons still apply. Good for managers/leaders.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on Storygraph

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is something of a classic - Conner originated the concept of the "burning platform" as motivation for change and this is where it happened. The book is well-organized, makes sense, and does a good job of supporting its contentions. It's not a dynamic read - but it covers its subject matter competiently and thoroughly.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both a general introduction to the concept and a very practical "how-to" guide for the practice of organizational change. Highly recommended if organizational change is an interest or a requirement for your work.

[Jeff Vankooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early book on resilience. The speed of change on the outside must match our internal ability to keep up with it if we are to manage effectively.

[ACRL]

Read by ACRL Member of the Week Jeanne Davidson. Learn more about Jeanne on the ACRL Insider blog.

[KellyK11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated (what he talks about happening has happened. Too slow to get to the point. Difficult to digest.

[Mills College Library]

658.406 C75277 1993

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Mitesh Patel]

Amazingly simple and brilliantly effective. Must read.