The Heart of Change Field Guide: Tools and Tactics for Leading Change in Your Organization

The Heart of Change (2002), co-authored by Kotter and Cohen, hit a chord in the marketplace because it told stories that leaders could relate to (based on the eight steps of change) about project successes and failures. Cohen's Field Guide (2005) takes those winning principles and translates them into practical tools to help monitor and measure success along each step. As a consultant, I use these principles and tools on a regular basis to help my clients achieve lasting change. The diagnostic tools for each step are a great way to identify barriers and risks so you can bust through those barriers and mitigate risks. If your organization is undergoing significant change, this is a book that you MUST have not only in your library but on your desk for regular use.

Dan S. Cohen's The Heart Of Change Field Guide: Tools And Tactics For Leading Change In Your Organization is a follow-up to the 1996 John Kotter best-sellers Leading Change, which outlined an eight-step program for organizational change which was applauded and followed by businesses around the world. Here leaders and managers receive tools and frameworks for bringing these changes to life within their own companies, teaching how to implement each step in the process and packing in checklists, commentary, tips, and practical application methods throughout. From communicating for buy-in to creating, shaping and imparting a vision for change, The Heart Of Change Field Guide takes idea and applies it to real-life situations.

I was initially skeptical when this book was recommended by a coworker. But wow! The two most outstanding points are: 1.The change management insights to be gained from the real-life case studies. It's reassuring to know you're not alone in facing these challenges. 2. The dignostic tools are very helpful in identifying similar issues to be resolved in my company. Great not to be "insulted" by cookie-cutter solutions. This is information and guidance that I can put to work immediately. Would recommend to any executive currently facing change management issues.

Dan S. Cohen's "The Heart of Change Field Guide" is a must-read call-to-action for managers, project managers, and anyone who wants to implement permanant, beneficial change in their lives and within their organizations or families. While the first book, "The Heart of Change," provides a framework and many success stories to get you motiviated, the "Field Guide" gives you the tools and coaching to implement what was taught. The Field Guide contains many workbook sheets that are very useful. While the book is copyrighted, there is an e-mail address listed on the copyright page to ask for permission to duplicate the worksheets.

This book by Dan Cohen is exactly what we needed at our company to make a huge impact. With examples, thoughts and real-life applications, I liked that this was not a cookie-cutter recipe but rather a customizable tool to fit different challenges and different needs. I was amazed to find out how valuable the emotional thread was to really motivate change. It is so unlike everything we learn in business school and the missing link for many organizations. Another valuable notion is the idea behind short and long term payoffs. We so rarely use short-term victories to help get us to longer term goals and in my opinion, one of the reasons why we were failing so often. Focusing in on short term wins helped motivate our team for the long haul. Finally, the key component, Making It Stick, was a chapter that spoke volumes. Once a project is completed, our organization often forgets to remind ourselves of the ongoing success we have to stop ourselves from falling back into old habits. His approach was such a great idea and we are implementing it daily. Great book and highly recommended.