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Brontosaurus Burgers and Me

Posted 152 weeks, 3 days ago by Jim Durbin.

We've all been in companies where the GRAND NEW PLAN is supposed tochange everything.  Anyone who has ever worked in administration cantestify to the remnants of former Grand New Plans in the storerooms andempty desks of corporate America.

Laurence points out the CAVE People not to advocate their termination or provide a scapegoat for failed plans, but to provide managers the tools to outmanuever the CAVE people, not allowing their little CAVE antennas to even start twitching before the new model is in place.

The priniciple I really took a shine too is a simple one.  The results and enthusiasm from small teams who work on a new plan can provide proof that a new plan really can work.  When rolled out across an entire enterprise, the small team provides an impetus and an energy that overwhelms our natural tendencies to dig our heels in and wait for the company initiative to pass us by.  It's much more difficult to deny someone who has experienced success than it is to ignore a manager who tells you that sliced bread will change the way you work.

If I had the courage, I would apply these lessons to my current corporate situation.  Alas, I have neither the trust nor the authority to freely speak my mind on how I would run things if I were in charge.  Maybe I'll send them Laurence's book....             -Jim Durbin

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Gautam
Tue, 08/02/2005 - 4:52pm

And it's amazing how many of seemingly sane, sensible people are CAVE people !

Kind of makes you think that the world should be grateful to the crazies and insane people for making it go forward !

laurence haughton
Tue, 08/02/2005 - 11:53pm

That's just it Gautam. The CAVE people have perfected appearing sane and sensible. (And even making it to positions of higher authority.)

That's why you have to use a plan that outmanuevers them. You'll never win the debate. Your only choice is to use a fait accompli. (Luckily they are slow so speed helps and they are very predictable.)

I know your pain Jim all too well. Let me know if there is any way I can help you besides providing moral support.

Maureen Sharib
Wed, 08/03/2005 - 2:32am

I call this the EPB - the Employee Push Back. It's the "This can't be done" and "That won't work" and "You're nuts and have another thing coming if you think I'm gonna do that!" mentality. They resist change for fear that change might create more work for them - it might just nudge them out of their comfort zones where they're content to lie in wait. It may mean they might have to expend some energy

learning new stuff, trying new things.

Change is a fascinating for some and fearsome topic for many people. Change means the status quo is going to get shaken and stirred and who knows what might spill out of the glass - who might get found out and who might be left out. It's not the cozy comfy couch zone so many are content to sit in.

It's strange, it's new, it's different, and it's threatening. What they miss is that it's so much fun. That's okay - there's more for me as a result.

;)

Maeghan
Thu, 08/04/2005 - 8:57pm

Sounds like a "Who Moved My Cheese?" kind of situation to me. Good book for employees who resist change.

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