Product Description Most organizational change initiatives fail spectacularly (at worst) or deliver lukewarm results (at best). In his international bestseller Leading Change, John Kotter revealed why change is so hard, and provided an actionable, eight-step process for implementing successful transformations. The book became the change bible for managers worldwide.
Now, in Urgency, Kotter shines the spotlight on the crucial first step in his framework: creating a sense of urgency by getting people to actually see and feel the need for change.
Why focus on urgency? Without it, any change effort is doomed. Kotter reveals the insidious nature of complacency in all its forms and guises.
In this exciting new book, Kotter explains:
How to go beyond "the business case" for change to overcome the fear and anger that can suppress urgency
Ways to ensure that your actions and behaviors -- not just your words -- communicate the need for change
How to keep fanning the flames of urgency even after your transformation effort has scored some early successes
Written in Kotter's signature no-nonsense style, this concise and authoritative guide helps you set the stage for leading a successful transformation in your company.
Recommended for both business and personal useDecember 31, 2008 When I first heard about this book, I immediately was attracted by its title and even more so, the credibility of the author. Judging by the title, it should be pretty obvious to anyone what the book is about. Almost. In general, the book is geared towards anyone involved in the corporate world who are in the state of complacency. Although the focus is primarily based upon businesses and how to act/react in the ever-changing environment and competition, the message and the examples provided within are applicable to ANYBODY. The message can very much be applied to overcome complacency within our regular lives and to start looking for ways to improve ourselves.
While reading the book, I often would find scenarios that are relevant to our personal lives' regular pattern. It's true though that once we've had success in our lives, we tend to become relax with our status that we stick with the norm. We ignore external signals that constant changes are necessary to become a success. In the corporate realm where the competition is fierce, companies tend to ignore external signals (competitors gaining more market shares, consumers dislikes such and such services, etc.). The book sends out a message that companies shouldn't wait for catastrophe or crisis before proceeding with necessary changes. The time to act is now.
What I like particularly about this book are the stories, which makes the book an easy reading. A trend that I've noticed among a lot of business books these days is the use of big words, which makes it rather a difficult reading. This was not the case. Although the message can be repetitive at times, in the end, it helps instills the message's importance. I would recommend this book just about to anyone since the message can be translated into something, such as propelling a career to greater heights, or towards learning a new skill. In the end, being able to translate this business message into your personal life helps you become a better employee, corporate manager, CEO or whatever you may be. The more people that shares the same sense of urgency, the better, since this mindset can be a powerful force in the corporate world.
- Dennis
Time to ImplementDecember 29, 2008 Very good book!! There were three ways to see what kind of urgency that your company had. Not all urgency was good and this book helps you see the good from the bad. The last part of the book gave you excellent tips on how to handle and increase urgency. I would recommend his other book first, Our Iceberg is Melting, then read this one.
Great Book for the righ timeDecember 17, 2008 This is an excellent book talking about the lack of common sense in the industry and government alike. I found it very true in general. However, this book is not specific on citing any research data to support his claim. It would be helpful that he has some data to back it up.
A Sense of UrgencyDecember 7, 2008 This is a very good book pin pointing a lot of companies having a problem of complacency yet owners, CEOs or senior executives are either not realize or decide to ignore.
Most companies having fundamental management problems. They simply keep dragging on making decisions / taking actions to rectify obvious issues the enterprise is encountering. Thus facing high risk of either losing out or eventually out of business.
I highly recommend this book to those who are serious and determined to do the right thing at the right time. Action now before it is too late. However do the right thing calls for a lot of courage and sense.
Good luck.
Seriously...4 hours of my life I'll never get backDecember 2, 2008 3 out of 4 found this review helpful
OK, so it's my fault for not stopping my iPod and going back to the new Tony Hooper CD "East to West", but seriously. Every once in a while you pick up a book (or Audio book) and while you listen you keep waiting for the punch line, the little nugget that makes it all worth while. Turns out the punch line for this one came and went in the first few minutes. Kotter could have easily covered the concept that there is such a thing as a false sense of urgency and all the necessary encouragement in half the length of a normal Seth Godin tome. Pick another way to spend four hours.
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