Daryl R. Conner - Managing at the Speed of Change: How Resilient Managers Succeed and Prosper Where Others Fail

PRAISE FOR
MANAGING AT THE SPEED OF CHANGE

Through the authors creative and strategic use of storytelling, Managing at the Speed of Change paints a compelling picturethe biggest, most expensive thing that can derail success is resistance to change in all its forms, from arrogance and complacency to fear or ignorance. As an authority on change management, Conner writes a wonderful prescription, providing relief not just in the race for business, but on a personal level, too.

B OB N ARDELLI , chairman, president, and CEO, The Home Depot

While many of the concepts in this books first publication have now become classic, they are every bit as relevant and impactful, especially for an organization for which change is an imperative.

H OWARD P IEN , chairman and CEO, Chiron Corporation

Managing at the Speed of Change provides essential working knowledge for anyone leading or implementing major change. I have been using this material since it was first published and it is as valuable today as it was then. Daryl Conners insights are timeless and enduring.

V ALERIE N ORTON , executive director, organizational development, Merck & Co., Inc.

It is refreshing to finally read a book that contains simple, clear, actionable concepts and ideas that deal with change management and can be used by all levels of management who face todays staggering business realities. I found Mr. Conners book to be educational, thought provoking, insightful, and stimulating. He recognizes the need for speed.

L LOYD H. D EAN , president and CEO, Catholic Healthcare West

Managing at the Speed of Change provides meaningful insights into change dynamics and useful guidelines on change implementation. It may well become the management textbook of choice for coping with future shock.

R OBERT A. L UTZ , vice chairman, global product development, General Motors Corp.

This book helped to explain to me the why of my own observations about peoples behavior when faced with change. It also provides practical guidelines for dealing with the accelerating pace of change we face in the future. To his credit, Daryl Conner does not profess to have all the answers but he certainly helps the reader to be aware of the right questions to ask.

B AS W HEELER , CEO, Celero Solutions

Organizations that learn to embrace change and use it to their advantage not only survive, but thrive. This book is every bit as relevant to my business today as it was when it was first releasedand, with the ever-increasing pace of change, perhaps even more so. If youre looking for practical insights and guidance about executing critical strategic initiatives, search no further.

V ERNON J. N AGEL , chairman and CEO, Acuity Brands, Inc.

Managing at the Speed of Change has been a primary source for helpful concepts and tools which have helped many PepsiCo executives lead change for the last decade. This time-tested volume has made terms such as sponsorship, resistance to change, and resilience a part of our corporate vocabulary. Still today, Conners landmark book continues to shape how we think about the critical issues involved in understanding culture and change, and how we equip our leaders to effectively lead change.

P EGGY M OORE , senior vice president, human resources, PepsiCo, Inc.

The nature and speed of change in todays environment, along with the complexities leaders face in running high performing organizations, make Daryls book as important today as when it first came out. Leaders know intuitively that managing change is a critical success factor yet they routinely underestimate the importance of the human side of change. Daryl makes perfectly clear what the critical elements are for Managing at the Speed of Change. This book should be on any serious leaders desk.

R OD M AGEE , chief learning officer, Honeywell

Over the last year, I have led a major change initiative for my corporation. One of the first sources I accessed was Daryl Conners Managing at the Speed of Change. The principles he outlined in 1992 are just as relevant today as they were then. The book is extremely valuable reading in this change-oriented world in which we now live.

B OB H URLEY , corporate vice president, Baxter International Inc.

Daryl Conner explains the nature of change in a model that we can apply to our personal and organizational lives. His deep personal knowledge of the subject and fluid prose style helped me move easily through a very complex subject.

J AC F ITZ -E NZ , president, The Saratoga Institute

There are two ways to look at success in todays management environment. The first is that success is reached when the enterprise runs smoothly and without disruption. The second is to consider success achieved only after you experience turmoil, commotion, and chaos, and understand the ramifications of these for your enterprise. The fact is, the former is a fairy talethe latter is real life. Change is unavoidable, and Daryl Conner has put his finger squarely upon it as the fundamental factor in influencing todays enterprise.

D ANIEL A. M ICA , president and CEO, Credit Union National Association, Inc.

Change is occurring around us, to us, and in us every single day. If you are a leader within your organization, Daryls book Managing at the Speed of Change is a must read. This book is filled with a wealth of practical knowledge that will guide you as you lead your organization through change. Too many projects fail today due to a lack of attention to the human implications. Take Daryls advice and put human due diligence on par with financial and technological due diligence.

M ICHAEL L. B REWINGTON , vice president, business transformation, John H. Harland Company

We started a major change project believing we knew what to change (we did) and how to manage the change (we didnt). Daryl writes that his book does not focus on what should be changed but rather on how managers can fully implement their vision within time and budget constraints. Using Daryls principles and insights we were able to better understand and do the how to successfully deliver the what.

T HOMAS W ASCOE , retired senior vice president, human resources, Abbott Laboratories

If youre initiating major change, prepare yourself by taking two aspirin, reading Daryls book, and getting plenty of rest. Our change effort was (and is) painful, but Daryls principles have helped us deal proactively with the stress.

C RAIG E. W EATHERUP , former president and CEO, Pepsi-Cola Company

Wonderfully vivid in its verbal imagery. Intensely practical for use in every phase of our business. The concepts presented in this book have become our rallying point for enlightened change management. I consider it an indispensable guide to change within any organization.

M ARK G. B ARMANN , former executive vice president and chief information officer, Charles Schwab

Daryl Conner offers invaluable insights and guiding principles for managing change in a world where increasingly complex problems emerge faster than ever.

W ILLIAM E. M ILLIKEN , founder and vice chairman, Communities in Schools, Inc.

All the MBA courses we took were important, but incompletetruly, understanding the human element as presented by Daryl Conner will distinguish the winners from the losers as we navigate through change.

D AVID J. S ERLO , president, PSCU Financial Services

Daryl Conners explanation of change in todays corporate environment and the role leaders play in the implementation of major change is enlightening, insightful, and encouraging. Highly recommended reading.