Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions

Heard OUR ICEBERG IS MELTING by John Kotter and
Holger Rathgeber . . . this is a short, yet insightful fable about
a group of penguins faced with a potentially devastating problem.

Though I don't usually like animal stories that show what humans
are like, for some reason this one struck home . . . I could relate
to the characters in the story, Fred, Alice, Louis, Buddy the Professor
and NoNo, particularly because they were so similar to individuals
I have encountered in my life . . . you'll recognize them as well.

You'll also be able to relate the story to change that needs
to take place in your company or organization, and how to
implement these "Eight Step Process of Successful Change"
that were originally developed by Kotter at the Harvard Business
School:

Set the Stage
1. Create a Sense of Urgency
2. Pull Together the Guiding Team

Decide What to Do
3. Develop the Change Vision and Strategy

Make it Happen
4. Communicate for Understanding and Buy In
5. Empower Others to Act
6. Produce Short-Term Wins
7. Don't Let Up

Make it Stick
8. Create a New Culture

One added bonus I gained from the CD version was that it contained
an informative discussion with both authors on ways to put the ideas
from the book into practice.

"Our Iceberg Is Melting" is a fable which deals with the subjects of change management, human behavior, and team building in similar form as "Who Moved My Cheese". Some interesting insights may be drawn concerning human behavior - specifically how people react to change, differing personalities, and the challenges that one may encounter when working in a small team environment. There are at least a couple disturbing techniques (at least in my opinion) that encourage crowd behavior and lessen independent thinking. Not my cup of tea but may be a good fit for someone seeking guidance in a corporate environment.

Okay, maybe not, but change agent John Kotter sure does. His acclaimed change agent book uses an easy to read fable to illustrate the timely and sensitive topic. Using a penguin colony faced with news that their iceberg is melting, he demonstrates the team struggle and creates scenarios similar to the ones us non-penguins encounter daily in our quest or resistance to change and shows how a collective, driven and organized process can bring results.

How individuals manage and respond to change is the difference between success and disruption. Most literature on change deals with a logical process, in Kotter's case: setting the stage, deciding what to do, making it happen and making it stick. Read by itself, the effect on the reader is minimal. Read through the lens of a heroic story makes it easy for the educated mind to drop its analytical reasoning and put change in the context of the human element.

Whether or not you have a melting iceberg, the roadblocks the colony faces and triumph of innovative thinking creates a story that we all want to be a part of as we navigate our organizational changes. If penguins can be successful in change, why can't we?

Review by Brandy Gonsoulin, Account Executive at Stinson Brand Innovation

A wonderful, creative attempt to teach through storytelling and fables. Highly effective and entertaining .

I am very pleased with the book I purchased. It was in very good condition. Seller true to their word. If you are working with others and change is in the making, this would be a good book to have them read.