Introduction
Claim Your Change Power

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Change Is EVERYBODY ‘s Business is about your change power at and around work. But you can’t really separate your life and work. You’ve got to focus on both in order to make change your friend. To make it something you revel in and walk into, rather than away from.

This book will help you develop the point of view and the practices for thriving in change. It will help you see its important role in your life and work. You’ll be better able to influence its impact on you and on the people you work with and for. Change Is EVERYBODY’S Business does the following:

Part 1: Powerful Beliefs. Your beliefs drive many of your actions. They also help shape how you view the world around you. You’ll examine seven important belief areas, make your own current beliefs more conscious, and commit to beliefs that will best shape your future.

Part 2: Powerful Character. Who you ARE is a major part of your impact—of your power. This is why we all agree, “actions speak louder than words.” This section describes four key character traits that support personal effectiveness in change.

Part 3: Powerful Actions. The actions you ultimately take are a combination of your beliefs, your character, and your capacity for action. In this section you’ll be challenged to develop the capacity for action that will help you be successful as a player in these more open and participative times.

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You can read one, two or all three parts, and read them in any order. Follow your needs and interests. You have the power!

There is a self-assessment questionnaire at the end of each section. I think you will get more benefit if you take the questionnaires before you read each section. It’s up to you.

This is a very personal book. I will talk with you as a colleague, a co-learner, and a fellow 21st century citizen. Change is my main interest in life, and I am excited to share what I have learned with you.

It will help if you take a few minutes to anchor yourself in the topic. So, before you read on, take some time to think about the changes that you have faced in your recent past—even face right now.

What is changing around you—and personally affecting you— that you feel you have absolutely no control over? (It could be a death, a law that is changing how your organization must work, a downsizing decision, or new technology.)

What is changing around you—and personally affecting you— that is someone else’s decision, but is something you can still influence? 3 (Like a shift in allocation of work, decisions about how your team will work together, etc.)

What changes are you experiencing in your life due to just getting older and moving to a different stage in your life? (Like a child moving out, dealing with weight problems, or feeling a need to use important skills and pursue interests you put aside years ago.)

What changes are you trying to make happen—initiating?

What other changes are coming into your life—from any source?

The answers to these questions will help you personalize your insights as you read and think about what follows. Enjoy your journey!!