TABLE OF CONTENTS There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, and more uncertain of its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.
Machiavelli in The Prince
While Machiavelli is not recommended as a role model for leadership, he did have a fairly good understanding of how difficult it can be to manage significant change. He went on to observe that the innovator has many enemies, those who have done well under the old order; and only lukewarm defenders in those who will do well under the new order. Even those who will do well in the new order recognize the risk involved in change and tend to wait to see how things develop before they commit to the new order. In other words, significant change is risky and requires a compelling reason to support the risk being taken.
Managing change can be extremely difficult. Suppose, for example, you were asked to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East. Managing that change would be an extraordinary accomplishment, since it seems no one has been able to do it for decades, if not centuries. Managing change can also be almost trivial. Suppose, on the other hand, you were asked to help wean your granddaughter, age 3 years, off the bottle and onto drinking from a cup. While this task is not trivial, it could be done in short order if you could suffer through a few tears and a...
