This book (Learning Strategic Change, Cambridge University Press, 2008)  by Flamholtz and Randle, among others, provides great insight into what it requires to make changes and what drives us and corporations to make changes.

As an individual interested in promoting both personal and corporate cultural change with regards to wellness as something to be invested in, I found this book very telling and encouraging as I seek to legitimize the role I want to play in promoting health and wellness cultural changes.

As far as drivers for change that the authors identify, I can see wellness falling under the guises of "getting closer to the customer" and "improving overall organizational effectiveness"- two of the three main objectives for organizational change they identified.  I believe it is the climate of our society, more savvy to the impact of health on our progress as a whole, that has the potential to take our potential for performance and productivity to another level entirely.

Promisingly, the case studies Flamholtz and Randle used indicated an understanding from management that change required both time and resources to be effective and lasting, highlighting the following lessons to ensure productive and positive achievement of change goals:

1. Successful change typically requires more than one "leader." This could include people to "sponsor", "bless" and "execute" the initiatives required.

2. Management systems and corporate culture are key levers in the change process- particularly when the magnitude of change is transformational.

3. Find ways- through symbols (including the language used)- to communicate and reinforce the change.

4. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

5. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

6. Change requires resources. 

7. To the greatest extent possible, involve those who will be affected by it in planning for and implementing the change.

8. Change requires a total commitment by its leaders- they can't give up.

And neither should you!!

Whether you are an individual human or corporate entity these principles and lessons hold true for making changes.  We are designed to learn, grow and evolve- or suffer the consequences of living below our true abilities and potentials.

In both the corporate and individual settings this means existing with a lack of connection to your community, internally and externally.  Choose to be engaged in change and build a system for success by investing in your health and wellness and ensure a different level of commitment and participation in whatever changes you are planning to make for your continued growth and evolution.

How to IGNORE HYPE and STAY HEALTHY!

Common Sense-Based Health Tips that Work… with no Side Effects!

This is not so much an article as a compendium of information I have

gathered over the last months as the media hype over swine flu rips

through our collective psyche. I have boiled the best of the best into this

format so you can whip out a piece of paper, jot these down and get to

work now on using common-sense practices to stay healthy today and

tomorrow during the next (name an animal we farm)-flu outbreak,

pandemic, epidemic of fear-based dis-ease marketing.

1. Turn the channel every time anyone talks about the swine flu, say “I’m too healthy and strong to get it” and don’t stress.

2. Remember that the ‘common’ flu is just as if not more lethal than the swine flu!

3. Wash your hands and don’t touch your face… as much for the flu as for your skin health and beauty!

4. Gargle twice daily with warm salt water.

• Don’t give ‘stuff’ you don’t want a nice place to live and don’t burden your immune system!

5. Use a Neti Pot to clean out your nasal passages.

• We live in a polluted environment and likely have chronically inflamed nasal passages.

6. Floss.

• See above, don’t let the ‘visitors’ hang out.

7. Drink warm liquids.

• Flush those bacteria or other visitors into your stomach and let the acid destroy what’s left.

8. Crank up your immune system with vitamin C and Zinc.

• Dr. Vinay Goyal suggests much of the above along with C.

9. Feed your healthy bacteria… listen to your Naturopathic Doctors!

• Garlic, Onion, Leeks, along with good probiotics will help your body stay on top of the fight!

10. STAY FIT!!!!

• Healthy people have a much better immune and stress response so use resistance and cardio exercise wisely to simulate your body not exhaust it!

Two final notes: Have your vitamin D levels checked as they are an excellent indicator of immune and inflammatory health and have a “Flu Buddy” so you can be sure someone will take care of business and life if you do need a day of rest!!

Choose to use that good old common-sense stuff and ignore the hype... and keep your back straight!

Scott 

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