Learning about Change from Darwin
Almost 150 years ago, Charles Darwin wrote: “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
In my view – Darwin’s wisdom applies not only to species but also to us as individuals and the organizations we are a part of. In our adult lives we’ve had to adapt to a great deal of change. We’ve gone from typewriters to mainframe computers to netbooks the size of a pad of paper. We’ve seen industries become invented, become regulated, become deregulated, and then disappear. We’ve gone from staying in touch via the telephone to email and now to Twitter and Facebook.
Not only are we experiencing more change than ever before . . . we are also experiencing change at an increasing rate of speed. Harvard Business school professor John Kotter wrote, “We live in an age where change is accelerating.” Whereas in the past, change might take place over the course of decades or years . . . we are now seeing dramatic shifts in markets, technologies, competition, and customers in as little as months or even days.
Think about it. Our world was completely different in April 2008. As a result, you and your organization must constantly change in order to succeed and survive. But speak the word change at work and what reaction do you get? When employees hear about a new change effort, most will shudder and roll their eyes. When managers are tapped to lead change initiatives many will be filled with dread. If change is essential for our survival, why is change so painful for so many?
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