Page 233 - 4- Leading_from_Within

Leaders and traditional managers tend to have different views of what
change means. Traditional managers who are linked to the status quo
frequently see change as a threat and as something that causes problems.

Management usually aims at just maintaining consistency and order.
Leaders, on the other hand, look forward to change as an opportunity to
grow, to gain an advantage, and to attain excellence. For leaders, change
brings something new, exciting, and challenging. In contrast to traditional
management, leaders aim at movement and change, providing the
opportunity to constantly reassess the organization and its goals and

desired outcomes. If a person is not trying to improve the organization, he
or she is not leading. A subsequent chapter in this book will focus on the
differences between management and leadership, especially as it applies to
local government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

When you consider the components of successful organizational change
the qualities of a transformative leader become clear: 227
• To begin with, successful change within an organization requires a
clear and thorough understanding of what change truly means.
• It requires the capacity to generate and use power or influence in the
change process.

• It requires the organizational leadership to provide the vision and
support for the change efforts.

• It is critical for the leadership to set priorities about what change
initiatives will allow the organization to achieve its vision most

effectively and efficiently.
• It requires an effective process for getting from where the
organization is today to where it ultimately wants to be.
• Organization leaders have the responsibility for assessing and
measuring progress so that necessary modifications can be made to

ensure successful change.

Far too often, the leaders of an organization may have been thinking for a
while about the need for a particular change but fail to communicate this

227 http://www.methodframeworks.com/blog/2010/change-agents-power-behind-effective-change-
management/index.html.

David Kolzow 233