Be the change that you wish to see in the world

Mark Dalgarno
Aug 9, 2017 · 1 min read

In recent years I’ve been doing a lot of work as part of large Governmental Transformation programmes.

Alex Osborne commented on my recent post “Some thoughts on how to not screw-up organisational transformation” that in his experience the people funding transformation programmes are often the last ones to get on board with the adaptations (changes) needed to make the transformation effective.

This got me thinking about a conversation I had a few years ago with a senior leader about modelling the behaviours they wanted others to adopt. I’d noticed them doing something that I didn’t think was in line with the new values, told them this and they took it onboard and modified their behaviour accordingly.

Which takes me to this post.

Showing what good looks like

If you want to lead an organisation to a new world you need to lead.

If it’s becoming more user-centred, you need to live and breathe user-centeredness.

If it’s being open and transparent, you need to be the exemplar for being open and transparent.

If it’s being agile, you yourself need to adopt and demonstrate an agile mindset.

If you continue to work according to the established ways of working you’re effectively telling the organisation that you’re OK with them doing that too.

Be the change that you wish to see in the world!

Mark Dalgarno

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Freelance Agile Coach | Interim Manager | Agile Programme or Project Manager. Conference Organiser. Improver.