The Six Secrets of Change 2.0

Create a thriving, adaptable organization with proven strategies to cultivate meaningful change In this much-anticipated new edition of The Six Secrets of Change, acclaimed bestselling author Michael Fullan offers 50 percent new content to lay out key factors that allow an organization to adjust quickly and intelligently to shifts in consumer tastes, political climate, and economic opportunity and sustain meaningful change. His lessons are simple, but profound, showing why collegiality must be deliberately cultivated, long-range plans must allow for the possibility of unknown opportunities, employees must be developed and nurtured, learning opportunities must be offered frequently, leadership potential must be developed at all levels, and positive pressure must be inescapable. Fullan also provides actionable guidelines and ideas that support those at the local, regional, and policymaker levels to become influential in helping to transform organizations and systems. Students, for example, will learn how to work with adults in developing vital learning and well-being habits that help them become better citizens “in” and “for” society. Ultimately, Fullan convinces us that a leader who attends to all these things will have an organization that is constantly learning, growing, and thriving. Readers will find: Illustrative examples from a variety of businesses, health organizations, and public education systems Eye-opening insights on why so many commonly accepted business principles are guaranteed to lead to failure Methods to create a culture of trust and ambition that empowers employees and inspires them to put their best foot forward This new edition of The Six Secrets of Change is required reading for all business leaders and executives who are seeking all of the perspectives and tools they need to create a winning strategy for transformational change in their highly unique organizations.

Foreword xv by Anthony Mackay Part 1: A Secret World 3 Nuance Meets Dynamic Complexity 5 The Original Six Secrets 13 The Big Decline 19 Deepening Economic Inequality 19 Turning the System on Its Head 29 Stuck 42 Part 2: Real Secrets Are Mysterious and Deep 47 The New Six Secrets 51 1. Secret One: Love Your Employees: Spirit Work 52 A Long Way to Go 58 2. Secret Two: Connect Peers with Purpose: Contextual Literacy 61 3. Secret Three: Capacity Building Prevails: Connected Autonomy 64 Hire and Cultivate Talented People: 2008 69 Hire and Cultivate Talented People: 2025 70 4. Secret Four: Learning Is the Work: Legacy Leaders 72 Transcendent Thinking 80 Emotion and Cognition Meets Learning 86 Where to Next 90 5. Secret Five: Transparency Rules: Trust and Interact 94 Leadership Skill: Trust and Interact 94 A Bridge Not Far Enough 99 6. Secret Six: Systems Learn 102 Part 3: Systemness Change and the Future 109 In Search of a Better Future 113 The Big Change Model (BCM), AI, and All That 113 The Big Change Model (BCM) 114 Change Management 116 Applied AI 120 Be Critical Consumer of AI 124 The Allure and Price of Superficiality 127 Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) 130 Systemness in Action 139 Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) 139 Harnessing Complexity: The Learning Flywheel 144 The Future 149 Restructuring/Reculturing 155 The Role of Youth in Determining Our Future 157 Systemness: Change the Way We Think About Change 161 References 165 Acknowledgments 175 About the Author 177 Index 179