Change for change's sake

I spend a lot of time reading management books, listening to management audiobooks and perusing management resources on the Internet. While no one source will turn me into the "greatest manager since sliced bread," they all offer things that will benefit my endeavors to be better at what I do.

Once such resource is www.managementhelp.org. I sometimes read the articles to gain insights into general management principles. One topic I read had to do with Organizational Change:

It seems like the topic of organizational change has reached evangelical proportions. There's an explosion of literature about the subject and an accompanying explosion in the number of consultants who offer services in this general area. The following information attempts to provide some basic perspective about the concept of organizational change.

If you are interested in the entire article, I encourage you to visit their website. As I read, one item caught my attention:

Under "General Guidelines for Organizational Change was the following:

4. Don't get wrapped up in doing change for the sake of change. Know why you're making the change. What goal(s) do you hope to accomplish?

The statement made me think about the upcoming elections. There are those who would have us all believe that we should change every person in every office throughout the state of Louisiana. In a sense, they are advocating an "organizational change" not much different than what I was reading on this web site.

However, how many are wanting to change, just for the sake of change? Sure, Louisiana is not where any of us would like it to be, but to see complete turnover as the only answer seems short-sighted and potentially dangerous.

Term limits has really caused a shakeup at the state level. There are some that are jumping from one house to the other in an effort to stay on the job. Others are in the final years of eligibility.

As voters, we have to evaluate each candidate on their abilities, versus their drawbacks. Just because they have been there for "x" years does not necessarily make them good or bad for the state.

Louisiana is definitely at a crossroads. Elect the right people and we can usher in some of the best year ever seen. Elect the wrong ones and we might just spiral out of control.

However, that decision should not be made based only on a calendar.

May the Blog Be With You.