> I'm interested in learning what can be done by people at the bottom of
> the food chain to be "change agents" -- or does the theory of learning
> organizations just address management?
One of the most important things I've learned (from Gerald Weinberg)
over the last few years is that change starts with the individual and
grows from there.
For me to be an effective change agent, I must first work on myself --
my most powerful and effective instrument for change. If I can
personally operate in a way that's consistent with the type of
organization I'd like to create, then the chances of creating that
organization are better. People tend to notice when you start behaving
differently, when you attempt to really listen, understand, and accept
others and "where they are at".
A friend of mine talks about "enormous, small changes" that individuals
can make in their organizations. In this, she includes things like
declining to attend meetings that don't have a demonstrable purpose, and
explaining why. And, when someone passes on the next juicy bit of gossip
about another person, she asks, politely, "oh, from whom did you hear
that". She then repeats this until she can get no farther.
-- Brian Batke Brian.Batke@cle.ab.com Allen-Bradley Co., Mayfield Hts., OhioBrian Batke <bab@cle.ab.com>