Untying the 'nots' of Change Before You're Fit to Be Tied: A Tool Kit of Personal Strategies for Change at Work

Change is a critical factor in today's business world. When thinking of change we often have our punch list for the technical, procedural changes such as software, SOP, job aids and references, but we neglect those that are directly impacted, our ambassadors of change, the people. This book is straight forward approach and an easy read. It is an excellent tool for those struggling to rally the troops around change. I will definitely keep this book in my collection for change implementation.

There are many books available on managing change but very few approach the subject with sensitivity and openness as this book does. Although described as a "toolkit . . . for change at work" I soon realised that that is only half of the story. Perhaps a more accurate description would be "a toolkit . . . for change in life". Patti successfully blends personal experience with comment and stories from a wide variety of people in different circumstances, seasons the mix with practical techniques and presents the whole in a very readable format. "Untying the `Nots" of Change" is divided into three sections that deal with the three major problems associated with change; understanding change and its effects on us, dealing with the external effects of change on us and how to overcome our tendency to resist change. From realising that the way you behave during the day at work will be the way you behave at night at home to forgiving those that have wronged or hurt you (in reality or perceived). Dealing with stress to developing a positive attitude, Patti has covered each aspect with the same practical approach that makes this a reference book that should be in everybody's home and office library. This is definitely not a book to be read only when you need help with a reorganisation at work. Rather it should be read regularly to sharpen the skills that make coping with life on a day-to-day basis more enjoyable and rewarding. After all . . . one of the few things that we can be certain of in this life, is that things will change and not all change is good.

Patti Hathaway's book "Untying the `Nots' of Change" is a must read for anyone undergoing change in their life, which is probably all of us. Although the book focuses on change in the workplace, many of the ideas and suggestions can easily be applied to our personal lives as well. Patti's writing style makes this an entertaining and easy-to-read resource. I especially like how Patti weaves her personal stories into the book. Not only does she open up to her readers about successes, she also shares with us the challenges she's faced. The "Action Plan" at the end of the book is of great benefit. It causes one to reflect on their life and where they are headed in the future. This is one of the best books I've read on self-improvement.

The reason that I like the book, "Untying the `Nots' of Change before You're Fit to Be Tied", by Patti Hathaway, so much is because it was written to approach the front line people of any organization that is going through or will be going through a change process. That is one area in which this book stands out from other change management books. Most others are written addressing managers and coaching them on how to manage change. Hathaway's book coaches employees on how to work through change. The main point that Hathaway stresses in the beginning of the book is that an employee has the choice on how to be when change begins to affect them at work. They can either be a change victim or a change agent. Per Hathaway, "An agent is someone who produces an effect; an instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result. An agent is proactive and involved in the change. A victim is a person who is adversely affected by something or someone. They wait for an event to happen and then react to it." (p. 8)The book is separated into three sections. The first section discusses why we as employees become "Fit to be Tied" when our organization changes. In this section she goes through the cycle of resistance. She also urges each person to evaluate their reaction to change and how it impacts them professionally and personally. I liked this section because it helps the reader to go through a self-realization stage. In the second section, Hathaway discusses communication strategies to untie the 'Nots' in organizational change. In this section you learn strategies to deal with new leadership, the importance of being coachable, the value of forgiving, and how to give critical feedback in a purposeful manner. Section three gets into how to overcome the personal `Nots' that keep up in our resistance to change stage. In this section, Hathaway discusses how to gracefully exit and let go what you cannot control, how to take action in areas that you can control and encourage others to do the same (be a champion), plan to manage stress that comes with change, develop a positive attitude by utilizing the strategy of self-talk, and finally designing an action plan. I personally enjoyed reading this book and agreed with Hathaway's approach to handling change in the workplace. It is not only important for management to learn to manage change, but it is also equally important if not more important for the front line people in an organization to learn to adjust to change. If they do not learn how, then they will just have to be prepared for the consequences of being left behind. I would recommend this book to anyone that asked me about it. I would recommend it to front line employees as well as to management.

In Untying The 'Nots" Of Change, Patti Hathaway demonstrates that our mania with "change" is not an unqualified good, that it is often painful, stressful, debilitative, and counterproductive. Hathaway explains and illustrates how little changes at work can damage health, why the resistance of ordinary people to change contributes to costly mistakes, five valuable and important things people miss out on with their refusal to change, that nagging and whining about change can be both positive and profitable, and crucial strategies for lessening the pain and stress that inevitably accompany change. Untying The 'Nots" Of Change is both illuminating, rewarding and comforting reading for anyone who has ever had to deal with the calamities of change, or who has a managerial responsibility for implementing change in the workplace.