The Best Change Management Books to Get You Ready for Organizational Change

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." -Arnold Bennett

Whether you or an external force initiated the changes that are about to take place, preparation is essential for you and your organization. Change management tools can be the catalyst for immense success or supreme failure.

Early on in the process, develop a think rhythm about the future adjustments, the impacts of change management, and an employee focus. Change management is much harder than project management or business processes, as you are dealing with human beings that have feelings that they bring to the workplace. This list of the best change management books will get you ready for the better and brighter future.

Here are the best five change management books for middle market executives:

1. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Let's be honest - change is hard, and there will be conflict. Work with your team during the transition, and keep the communication lines open. This book will give you the tools to tackle even the toughest conversations during the transition. All management strategies should be based on dealing with the difficult conversations, not avoiding them.

2. Rhythm: How to Achieve Breakthrough Execution and Accelerate Growth by Patrick Thean
You are going to need a system during change management. How will you know whether initiatives are successful? The Rhythm System will help you develop the right rhythms to ensure the success of change management in your organization. Rhythm Systems is all about strategy execution, which always involves the human side of embracing change.

3. StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
Understanding your team's strengths will help your organization transition smoothly. Knowing how your employees work best and work with others is an invaluable gift, especially in times of change. Using StrengthsFinder can unlock the potential of your team and set them up for success during the transition period. Having team members focus on their strengths is a management model that makes the most out of organizational change.

4. Leading Change by John P Kotter
John Kotter is one of the most well-known change management authors of the 20th century. "By outlining the process every organization must go through to achieve its goals, and by identifying where and how even top performers derail during the change process, Kotter provides a practical resource for leaders and managers charged with making change initiatives work." This book will help you with the management processes needed to achieve your 3-5 year strategic plans.

5. That's Not How We Do It Here!: A Story about How Organizations Rise and Fall--and Can Rise Again by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber
I know I already mentioned John Kotter, but he really is the king of change management! "In their iconic bestseller Our Iceberg Is Melting, John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber used a simple fable about penguins to explain the process of leading people through major changes. Now, ten years later, they’re back with another must-read story that will help any team or organization cope with their biggest challenges and turn them into exciting opportunities."

At Rhythm Systems, one of our core values, is to keep smart, so we are constantly reading the best organizational change management books and help our clients implement change with our products and services. Effectively managing team members and leadership teams during change is a difficult proposition, but there are several skills that you can learn to help you with the process and your human resources.

With these books in mind, hopefully, change management in your organization goes smoothly! It is one thing to read a great book about change management, but it is quite another to actually implement it. If you would like to learn more about how Rhythm can partner with your organization during change, talk to an expert today to learn more about our cloud based software and coaching.

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