Robert (Bob) Harris, President of Robert Harris Inc., a training organization which focuses on enhancing individual and organizational effectiveness was in Sudbury recently to present a workshop to the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s senior administration, managers, principals and staff entitled, Effective Change Leadership.

“As a rule, people do not like change,” stated Harris. “Statistics indicate that in any organization, at least 80% of employees will be in a mild to strong resistance at the outset of change.” Harris pointed out that while change is an event that is external to us, transition is more internal as it is the gradual psychological reorientation that happens within us as we try to adapt to change. “People are motivated by two factors; Pain and Gain . . . of these two, the avoidance of pain is by far the greater motivator, or what I call the Burning Platform.”

The morning presentation and break out sessions centred around;

• the varying stages of transition that accompany change
• a balanced approach to change that bridges the disconnect between advocates and resisters
• the 4-part ‘Communications Model’ that presents change in a way that fosters understanding and commitment
• applying the 4-part Communications Model’ to the challenges and change needs in the current workplace and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board