Successful transformative changes follow a pattern, one that Chip and Dan Heath highlight through interesting stories and a clever metaphor in their book Switch. Through the lessons in the book, you learn how to help the Rider (our rational minds) and Elephant (our emotional minds) down the desired Path of change.
Meeting this challenge requires a thoughtful and informed approach. After all, as the authors reveal, what looks like resistance to change is often a lack of clarity. What looks like laziness is often exhaustion. And what looks like a people problem is often a situation problem.
The book helps you learn how to identify and work through these and the many other challenges of making real change – individually or in an organization. The authors also demonstrate that commonly perceived obstacles to change, such as lack of authority or resources, aren’t really always what’s in the way. Several stories reveal huge changes perpetrated by individuals or small groups with no authority and little resources.
The book is well-written, easy and fun to read. The examples are compelling and memorable stories. The framework presented is clear and simple, making the lessons of the book easy to recall and apply. Highly recommended for anyone in a leadership position, or for anyone looking to drive change.