Play Audiobook Sample
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.15) - 289 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
The business world is a place of constant change, with stories of mergers, layoffs, bankruptcy, and restructuring appearing in the news every day. No matter the scale, when these kinds of changes hit the workplace, the concrete situational shifts are often not as difficult for employees and managers to work through as the psychological transitions that accompany them. Organizational transitions affect people; it is always people who have to embrace a new situation and carry out the corresponding changes. Without a clear understanding of what transition does to employees and what employees in transition can, in turn, do to an organization, the job of managing workplace change can be difficult. Managed poorly, the result can be disastrous for morale and stability. As veteran business consultant William Bridges explains in detail, successful organizational change takes place when employees have a purpose, a mental picture, a plan for, and a part to play in change. In short, successful change takes place only when employees are "on board" with it. Directed at managers on all rungs of the corporate ladder, this thoroughly updated and expanded edition of the best selling Managing Transitions provides practical, step-by-step strategies for reaching goals and minimizing the disruptions caused by workplace change. It is an invaluable managerial tool for navigating an inevitably tumultuous time.
Download and start listening now!
"an accurate, practical book that takes you through the steps of organizational change. focuses on looking below the surface to how the people in the organization think about change, not just the administrative tasks that are necessary to make changes in an organization. very apropos of the transitions and movement within HAI where i'm working now."
— Linda (4 out of 5 stars)
Managing Transitions Listener Reviews
-
" Written more for the manager/executive handling major transitions (plant closings, mass layoff, etc.) than the layperson dealing with more day-to-day changes, but very thought-provoking and highly re-readable. A bit idealistic, perhaps, but certainly geared at erring on the side of sensitivity and compassion. "
— Molli, 2/18/2014 -
" needed to read this one before the acquistion...great book for those buying a company "
— Jason, 2/17/2014 -
" For work, obviously. About 30 of our staff are about to "transition" into new jobs under a scheme to streamline the administrative positions in our agency in order to build a career ladder for admin staff, so they don't get stuck in the same position for 20 years and can take on management responsibilities. It's a huge project because not only will these 30 people experience the change of starting all new functions and giving up their old roles, but the probably 200 other staff who work with them will also have to adjust. Anyhow, we're doing a session on this book during the orientation for the 30 people moving into new positions. The book's premise is useful - when it comes to people, you don't manage change so much as you manage the transition process brought about by the change. The author sets up a three phase model that probably fairly accurately describes what happens in these cases (not that I'd know yet). The first stage is letting go of the old order, then there's a neutral zone where no one really knows what's going on because they've let go of the old ways but new ways haven't settled in yet, and only after this does the new beginning come. Interesting case studies and examples make for a more interesting read than you'd expect and the suggestions for addressing each phase are also useful. The author's premise is openness - to share as much information with staff as is available to management, even if plans are not yet firm - which is seems like a good rule of thumb to follow in any situation. In terms of a management text, it probably deserves 4 stars, but it did not make for all-absorbing Metro reading, no matter how hard I tried. "
— Agnes, 2/11/2014 -
" I had to read this book for work but I actually really enjoyed it. It is a great book for anyone who is experiencing change in their workplace. "
— Shea, 2/8/2014 -
" Great book for the people side of change! "
— Scott, 2/4/2014 -
" This book taught me some good points for dealing with times of transition. "
— James, 1/21/2014 -
" Great book about how an organization can make it through any change/transition period. Easy to read and the author gives tons of examples to help the reader understand. "
— Len, 1/16/2014 -
" Really solid explanation and advice about the human side of change. "
— Lynn, 1/15/2014 -
" really good insights, structures, and advice "
— Boris, 1/6/2014 -
" Great book! Thanks for the recommendation, Amy Shanholtzer! "
— Scott, 12/12/2013 -
" I loved this book from page one to the end. Bridges presents an approach to managing transitions that is both intuitive and academic. "
— Jeff, 12/5/2013
About William Bridges
William Bridges, PhD (1933–2013) was originally a professor of English and made a shift to the field of transitional management in the mid-1970s. Out of his workshops grew a long career of consulting, lecturing, and helping individuals and organizations through transitions. He was an internationally known speaker and author and a preeminent authority on change. He earned a BA degree in English from Harvard, an MA degree in American history from Columbia University, and a PhD in American civilization from Brown University. He taught American literature at Mills College until 1974 when he became a consultant.
About Gildan Assorted Authors
Téa Obreht was born in Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia in 1985 and has lived in the United States since the age of twelve. Her writing has been published in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Harper’s, and the Guardian, and has been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Nonrequired Reading. She has been named by the New Yorker as one of the twenty best American fiction writers under forty. She lives in New York.