What's not to love about a book that uses the analogy of chocolate?
I'm sure Rose Fass felt the same thing as she was writing her new book, The Chocolate Conversation : Lead Bittersweet Change, Transform Your Business. An experienced business transformation consultant and a former executive at companies like Xerox and Gartner, Rose shows us how leaders can avoid a meltdown and instead drive change by the way they communicate in a language that all stakeholders can understand - just like chocolate!
I asked Rose to share of our top tips for leaders coping with change here:
- When faced with a merger or acquisition, keep in mind you need to establish new standards and rethink your worldview. Appoint an integration manager to address cultural differences and work to create a third identity.
- Every leader's job is to translate and create an emotional connection with his or her constituents. It’s important that people see themselves in the change that has to happen in your company. You can’t call yourself a leader if no one is following you.
- Craft your message carefully. Distill it to its essence. If you use message discipline effectively, it will translate into operational discipline. Listen to your people, seek feedback, and do something with it.
Rose uses a lot of big business examples in the book, but I believe the advice she gives about the art of conversation apply in our personal lives as well. Sometimes, even when you're technically speaking the same language, you have to be a great translator. This talent can mean the difference between whether a change initiative succeeds or fails.
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