– Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

Change is all around us. It’s part of life. There is constant pressure for faster, cheaper, better products and services from customers. There are technology advances, globalization, the demand for growth and productivity – either of internal or external origin – that are of interest or concern to stakeholders, shareholders and employees. Wise and courageous change is needed to tackle poverty, inequality, terrorism, climate change, sustainability, deforestation and resource depletion. Today, we all need to play our part in initiating and managing change.

Are we fully prepared to take up the challenge of change? Are we fully aware of what’s happening, are we courageous and persistent in following through on our belief of what is right, and lead with empathy in cooperating with others – often with different worldviews and from different cultures – to see the way through to a meaningful and wise result?

Or do we put our head in the sand and ignore reality? Do we keep with the same old way when there are better ways? Do we accept unfair or destructive change to the weak and vulnerable members of society because we feel  “we’re powerless” to do anything?

You don’t have to learn nor do you have to change. You don’t need to survive either!
– W. Edwards Deming

Take the opportunity to initiate or respond to change as the case may be. And realize that each person in an organisation – or member of society – has a role to play, however minor.