Urgent Tactics: 3 & 4

I finally finished the Kotter book!

His final two tactics for maintaining a sense of urgency are: 3) Find Opportunities in Crises and 4) Deal with NoNos.

Find Opportunities in Crises

In this chapter, Kotter introduces the idea of the "burning platform" (120). He says, "even people who are most solidly content will begin to act differently if a fire starts on the floor beneath their feet. With fire spreading around them, everyone moves, the status quo is eliminated, and a new beginning is possible." He continues, "Within the logic of burning platforms, if natural events do not create a crisis, you must. You don't wait. You don't hope. You develop a strategy and act" (132).

Keeping in mind that true urgency is the goal, the notion of a burning platform doesn't seem that far-fetched. I think Kotter's point is that the issues that are most effective at propelling us forward are sometimes carefully managed. The organization doesn't get "burned," so to speak, but instead is driven to act by very real circumstances. As Kotter suggests, we must view each crisis as an opportunity to maintain that sense of urgency that creates an environment of positive change.

What platforms can be set on fire in your library? What strategies for managing those flames have you used?

Deal with NoNos

As you might've guessed, a NoNo is someone who thwarts efforts to maintain that sense of urgency described elsewhere in the book. However, Kotter makes an important distinction: NoNos are not skeptics. Skeptics, according to him, "can usefully keep enthusiastic, but naive, impulses in check." On the other hand, a NoNo "will do nearly anything to derail processes that attempt to create change" (147).

Think about the NoNos in your work environment. Kotter points out that it is almost always a waste of time to "co-opt" a NoNo. More often than not, someone in that position brings any productivity to a grinding halt. Likewise, he indicates that NoNos can't be ignored as they frequently kill urgency in an organization by being allowed to spread their message to others unchecked.

So, how do you deal with a NoNo? Kotter suggests three methods: 1) distract them, 2) push them out, and 3) ply them with social pressure by publicly acknowledging their behaviors. The bottom line is that NoNos must be dealt with in order for the sense of urgency to be maintained.