Cope with change or else…

The first time I ‘met’ up with Tom Peters was during my MBA. His book that he co-authored with Waterman “In Search of Excellence” was a prescribed book. Even the remote spot of Westville in South Africa where my Graduate School of Business was situated had heard of him.

This was in the late 1980s. Thirty years ago.  As management and business strategy books went In Search of Excellence was pretty much way ahead of it’s time.

I still follow Tom Peters and still buy his books, RSS his blog, watch his videos on YouTube and follow him on Twitter. He’s 67 years old now and he’s as real and on the money now as he was then.

Some of his ideas haven’t changed because they are as valid now as they were thirty years ago. And of course there are many great new ones. Not only are his ideas as fresh, relevant and interesting as before but his delivery method has also kept up with the times.  Besides his books and lectures he’s a great supporter and user of social media.

There is such a dramatic difference in the way some people can keep up with change and embrace it and others who just don’t seem to be able to keep up. A podcast I was fortunate to find on the internet really showed up the consequence of not being able to change.

This podcast on NUMMI,  a motor vehicle manufacturing plant in the USA,  describes the story of the motor industry in the USA and in particular the demise of GM. It’s a classic example of what happens if  a company is unable to move with the times.  It’s a long one, but if you like business case studies this one is superb.

The story of GM is told using excellent journalism. There is also effective use of opinions and in-house knowledge provided by a string of people who contribute well to this podcast. It’s a tale about people, whether managers or workers, who over a lengthy period of time refused to change and adapt to new times even though they were offered many opportunities to do just that.

They were scared of losing power, status, money, jobs, special privileges and more. In the end they lost a lot more.

The final result is that GM had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and Tom Peters is assured of a best seller again with his recent book The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE.

Change is difficult to deal with. In Vietnam I often hear  the saying that this or that idea that is put forward can’t be implemented because that’s not how things are done in Vietnam.

Can’t really blame them. If a world leader in motor vehicle manufacturing can’t cope with change, a new developing country such as Vietnam with a communist government may be excused for being cautious and reluctant to grab hold of change with both hands.

Whatever the situation or circumstances though, change is an important component in daily life whether private or business.  The people who cope with it the best find success in their endeavours.