Finding the Levers to Effect Change

By far the most common lament we hear from leaders new to their schools is something about the intransigence to change that seems hard-wired into the culture of the place. Many heads are hired with specific mandates from boards to effect a culture change. And it makes sense: institutional transformation - whether academic, social or financial - seems rooted in changing the underlying culture that makes the status quo possible.Yet, a terrific new piece from Jon Katzenbach, Carolin Oelschlegel, and James Thomas in Strategy & Business (Spring 2016) makes a strong case that culture change as a first step is nigh unto impossible. What stands out to me is the importance Katzenbach et al., attach to small, but important, behavioral changes as precursors to culture change.

"The key is to focus on what we call “the critical few,” a small number of important behaviors that would have great impact if put into practice by a significant number of people."

That seems so much more achievable than a single-leap, massive culture change. And, according to their data, necessary if culture change is to happen in the long run. What "critical few" behaviors in your school need to change? Posed as a generative question, the conversation around the board table or in the administrative team meeting won't be boring!