Several years ago, I started telling anyone who would listen that every leader needed to make Getting Things Done (affiliate link) their personal productivity bible. I still believe it’s one of the best resources our there for people who have lots of great ideas but have a hard time, well, getting things done.
If you are in a position where you are responsible for leading change initiatives, then let me recommend a book that should become your change management bible. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard (affiliate link) is the single best resource on how to make changes stick that I’ve read. (The Heath brothers also wrote Made To Stick (affiliate link) one of my favorite books on communication.)
They write:
In this book, we argue that successful changes share a common pattern. They require the leader of the change to do three things at once. We’ve already mentioned one of those three things: To change someone’s behavior, you’ve got to change that person’s situation. . . For individuals’ behavior to change, you’ve got to influence not only their environment but their hearts and minds. The problem is this: Often the heart and mind disagree. Fervently.
No one should try to make changes in their organization without first reading Switch.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons