Napoleon Bonaparte
“In this era of tremendous change and revolutionary technological advancements, business leaders can only stay relevant by being adaptable, innovative, and possessing change leadership capability"
👏 Happy Friday!
On this day, May 5, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte, the former French ruler who once ruled an empire that stretched across Europe, died as a British prisoner on the remote island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean. He won a series of brilliant victories against the Austrian and Russian Empires but after his defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba. He made a brief return to power in 1815 but was decisively defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, leading to his final exile on the island of Saint Helena. Some see him as a military genius and a champion of reform and progress, while others view him as a brutal tyrant whose actions caused immeasurable suffering and loss. His achievements continue to have an impact on the world today, and his military tactics and political philosophy remain the subject of study and debate.
✅ Napoleon Bonaparte told us, “One must change one’s tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one’s superiority.” Napoleon Bonaparte emphasised the importance of adaptation and was known for his innovative tactics and reforms, but he was also resistant to change when it came to his own power and authority. Similarly, his protectionist economic policies impeded the growth of free trade and innovation. The current era is marked by tremendous change and revolutionary technological advancements, requiring adaptable business leaders to keep their organisations relevant and competitive. Now more than ever, business leaders need to be innovative and have change leadership capabilities if they are to remain relevant. Leadership Success Requires Change Capability.
“In this era of tremendous change and revolutionary technological advancements, business leaders can only stay relevant by being adaptable, innovative, and possessing change leadership capability"
👉 The skills required for leading normal day-to-day operations are very different to leading change. Organisations invest huge amounts of capital on a change, transformation or improvement initiative and then ask their leaders to lead the implementation without providing any change leadership capabilities. Change leadership capabilities include:
Change Leadership Alignment: The change leadership alignment process is fundamental for leaders to model the new way. This process creates the leader’s change vision, aligns them on their strategic objectives and develops a high performing team, as well as change skills and knowledge.
Change Knowledge: Change management knowledge is information acquired through sensory input, such as reading, watching, listening, etc.
Change Skills: Change management skills refers to the ability to apply change management knowledge during change implementation. It is best to practice the application of any newfound skills, and change management is no different.
Have a fantastic weekend with the ones you love and care for, enjoy some fresh air, exercise, eat, drink and be happy.
Further Reading: Change Management Leadership - Leadership of Change Volume 4.
Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.
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Peter F Gallagher is a Change Management Global Thought Leader, Guru, Expert, International Speaker, Author and Leadership Alignment Coach.
Listed #1 by leadersHum Top 40 Change Management Gurus You Should Follow in 2022 (Mar 2022).
Ranked #1 Change Management Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Change Management (2022-2021-2020) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #1 Business Strategy Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Business Strategy (2022) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #2 Leadership Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Leadership (Aug 2020) by Thinkers360.
Business Book Ranking
Change Management Behaviour - Leadership of Change® Volume 6, listed among the 50 Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2022.
Change Management Adoption - Leadership of Change® Volume 5, listed among year-to-date’s (Jul 2021) most popular books on business and technology from Thinkers360 member thought leaders.
Change Management Handbook - Leadership of Change® Volume 3, listed among the 50 Business and Technology Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2021.
Change Management Pocket Guide - Leadership of Change® Volume 2, ranked within the top 50 Business and Technology Books (Jan 2020) from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders.