Cheese And Transition
Cheese and Transition
William Bridges "Managing Transition" and "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson use two different techniques to describe change. "Managing Transition" describes the processes of change and the sequential order they occur in. "Who Moved My Cheese" focuses on the people In change; different types of people and the way they react to change. Both books take you on a journey from the old stage to the new. Many stages resemble one another in both books. The stages in Cheese are described by writings on the walls, made by Haw.
Haws first writing was Having Cheese Makes You Happy". Haw is saying that you must establish the goals you want to meet and the values you want to maintain before commencing change. Managing Transition does not discuss what must be done before a change is implemented. MT discusses the stages of change, but not the organization that uses it. Next Haw writes The More Important Cheese Is To You, The More You Want To Hold Onto It.' Alluding to MT's Letting Go stage, Haw is describing how hard it can be to relinquish something and start change. MT explains you have to accept the reality of loss. Haw realizes that the more important something is to you, the harder it is to let it go. This leads Haw to his next realization If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct.' Haw is still in MTs Letting Go stage. However, he is beginning to acknowledge the loss openly and realized he must soon enter the Neutral Zone and end the Letting Go stage to begin change. Haw then asks What Would You Do if You Weren't Afraid?" Managing Transition does not really discuss the fear people have when they are beginning a change. According to MT, you have to be 100% honest and upfront with employees about change, because people are afraid and don't know what to expect, so they have to trust management to guide them.
Moving In A New Direction Helps You find New Cheese.' At this point Haw enters the Letting Go...
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