Jeffery David Whippo explains various factors that lead to the success or failure of change efforts. It can be one or a combination of variables such as resistance to change, ineffective process, lack of institutional support, and poor timing. Overall, change efforts fail due to poor leadership.
According to Whippo, the consequences of a failed change effort is significantly negative. Negative behavior includes morale declines, absenteeism increases, organizational turnovers that occur more frequently, and productivity suffers. Moreover, teams are less likely to collaborate openly and honestly. Besides, organizational stakeholders actively and passively resist.
Thus, it all comes down to leadership. Change efforts fail because of leadership. Often, it is not leadership that is lacking, but execution is the problem. It is sometimes due to lack of compelling reasons to change. After all, even a best plan needs to be accompanied with a great story to support it. It is important that your story builds a bridge between today’s challenges and a brighter tomorrow.
Jeffery Whippo strongly believes that while some leaders understand the concepts of how to lead change, they are not able to act on that knowledge which causes their leadership to be ineffective as they make the same mistakes over and over again. Overall, everyone in the organization, not just the leaders, must be involved and take ownership for specific parts of the organizational change.
About Jeffery Whippo
Jeffery David Whippo has a Doctorate in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. He has over 25 years of education and leadership experience and is a decorated combat veteran.