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Change management is very important to ensure that the change you deliver is embedded in the organization. In other words, if you want people to use what you create, or change the way they work to the new standards and processes you put in place, then you need to help them through the transition.
You are reading: Books on organizational change
here is my list of the best change management books for leaders.
see this list (and some extras) on amazon.
1. lead the change by john p. kotter
Professor John P. Kotter is a leading authority on change management, and this is the book to start with. leading change (2012) is a comprehensive guide to his 8-step process for managing change.
The kotter way isn’t the only way to manage organizational change, but it’s now a common model and it’s helpful to understand the process so you can see what, if anything, you want to apply to your own projects.
kotter’s 8 step change process is:
- create a sense of urgency
- form a guiding coalition as a change team
- create a vision for change
- communicate the vision
- empower people to take action by removing barriers
- create the opportunity for short-term quick wins
- build on change incrementally
- keep it long-term.
That’s a very high-level overview, and the book goes into it in much more detail.
2. making sense of change management by esther cameron and mike green
Making Sense of Change Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Organizational Change Models, Tools, and Techniques is now in its fifth edition.
is a bestseller, billed as the “definitive” guide to change management, and it’s comprehensive. You’ll learn change management theories and models and see how you can use them in the workplace.
Aimed at people doing change management in a leadership role (aren’t we all?), it will help you understand how to adapt an organization to be ready for change.
I think this book is more for disruptive, transformative organizational change rather than “small” project-led change, but the theories, case studies, and techniques can definitely be applied to a project environment.
3. our iceberg is melting by john p. kotter
another book by kotter, our iceberg is melting: change and succeed under any conditions, is an easy read on why the “platform on fire” is essential in helping businesses embrace new ways of doing things .
I loved this book when I read it: it’s a business fable (which isn’t the kind of book I like to read) but it’s fun and definitely gets the message across. it’s about a group of penguins living on an iceberg and how they come to an agreement on what their next steps should be. you’ll read it and you’ll be nodding: “oh, that’s like my colleague x”.
The goal of the book is to highlight different archetypes: the kinds of colleagues you’re likely to work with (or block change from) during the project. When you better understand what drives them, you can create a change plan that supports everyone’s needs and brings the people together behind the vision.
See Also: Harry Potter and the final chapter: how do the books and films compare? | News | theguardian.com
oh, a “burning platform” is where the change is so extreme that you have to jump from the burning platform into the sea in order to move forward (and survive) and there is no going back. we had one of these on my biggest project to date and it was an amazing way to help people understand why we’re going ahead with change.
4. communicating change by elizabeth harrin
disclaimer: I wrote this one!
Change communication is about how you talk to people about the changes your project is bringing about. you’ll get lots of practical advice on what to say and when, how to identify how people want to receive information, and tips for communicating.
focuses primarily on how to talk about the change (in writing or in person) since, in my opinion, this is the hardest part to do. if you can get people to side with what’s going on, or at least deal with resistance to change when they can’t, then you’ll feel more confident moving forward with the project and the change will land more effectively.
bookboon publishes the change notice in e-book format and you can get it here (or include it in your bookboon subscription if your company has an account). it’s one of the best things I’ve ever written, so if you can take a look at it, do so!
5. the effective change manager’s handbook edited by richard smith et al
The Effective Change Manager’s Handbook: Essential Guidance for the Change Management Body of Knowledge is an accessible and practical guide to what change managers actually do.
It has chapters written by well-respected professionals, so while you’ll learn the theory, the goal of the book is to enable you to manage change in your organization, in ways big and small.
aimed at people who don’t necessarily have the change manager job title, if you submit changes as part of your role, you’ll find something useful here to help. People who have change manager job titles may find other books a bit more helpful, but project managers are often expected to do the part of the change work, too, without any formal training or guidance. this book is a good starting point.
Topics covered include sustaining change, preparing for change, and there is a specific section on change in a project management environment. there is also a substantial section on facilitation because talking to people is a lot of what change management is about. this is a good starting point to dive into the world of change management.
I’m always a bit wary of books written by multiple authors. while you get a great selection of voices and the book may pack more experience than a single author book, sometimes it just feels like the chapters don’t mesh well.
6. the theory and practice of change management by john hayes
This is another book that has had several editions, so make sure you get the latest version. The Theory and Practice of Change Management is a best seller in the field, but I find it less accessible than some of the others on this list as it is really essential reading for final year MBA students. of companies and change management.
Probably not the best to start with, but she’s a well-respected guide in the field, so it felt wrong to leave her out!
This would be right for you if you work in a large organization in the Change Manager role, or feel this is a path you’d like to follow in the future. is essential reading if you are studying organizational change or leadership.
7. Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson et al
The Crucial Conversation Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High is a frequently recommended book. it’s less about change management theory and more about a guide to how to talk to people about change when it really matters.
It’s a reasonably priced book that will work well on your shelf for all sorts of situations, not just managing change at work. A lot of the conversations we have to have as project managers need to be courageous conversations. Whether you’re giving feedback to someone who didn’t complete a task as expected to the required level, coaching someone who’s underperforming, or telling a customer that their deliverables aren’t ready, many of our conversations fall under the ‘difficult’ criteria.
See Also: Ta-nehisi Coates – Book Series In Order
This book will give you a comprehensive overview of how to deal with these conversations by preparing for and reacting to the situation as needed. you’ll feel more confident, and that’s really the point, isn’t it?
8. swap for chip and dan heath
chip and dan heath have written some excellent books, and switch: how to change things when change is their well read version of change management. I love your style and find your writing attractive.
This is a good guide for overcoming resistance to change, and its easy-to-read style means you’ll pick up bits of information without feeling like your reading time is work time. you can pack this in your travel bag or grab the audiobook version to listen to during your workout/running/baking etc.
9. jonah berger’s catalyst
catalyst (2020) is so good! there are so many wonderful examples in it, and i sat reading at waitrose cafe with avocado on toast without noticing the passage of time. is a book on how to reduce resistance to change by removing obstacles.
Instead of trying harder, try to understand first. then you can dismantle the objections one at a time. berger gives you a step-by-step guide to doing just that. the case studies and examples are brilliant and help to illustrate your points very clearly.
You will come away from this book with a totally different perspective on why people make the decisions they do and why they hold their views. once that window has been opened in your brain, it will never close.
This is a must read.
10. leading transformation by nathan furr, kyle nel and thomas zoega ramsoy
Leading Transformation: Taking Charge of Your Company’s Future by Nathan Furr, Kyle Nel, and Thomas Zoega Ramsoy was an interesting read, but I’m not sure how repeatable the case study would be.
Basically, the book shares a fascinating business case study that resulted in organizational transformation. draws heavily on neuroscience and change management and talks about using science fiction writers to design the vision of the future, sharing best practices related to storytelling.
It would take a brave organization to replicate the results, but here are tools in your own projects, especially around the use of stories to communicate the vision of the new world. Using visual tools to get your message across is not a new idea, but doing it with comics and in such an innovative way was new to me.
your reading list
And that’s your change management book reading list! These books will give you a complete overview of change management and lots of practical advice to make project and organizational change run smoothly in your business and stick around.
If you’re looking for some immediate change management tools, check out the 8 Levers of Change Release discussed by Shea and Solomon to get started.
If you’re looking for other tips for reading project management books, you can check out these:
- best prince2® books
- elizabeth harrin books (it’s me!)
- best books on project collaboration
- best books leadership for projects managers
- 8 should read books on stakeholder management
Which one will you read first?
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