It started with the Apple; can the Apple complete it?

Continuum – n., 1: a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees ("good" and "bad" stand at opposite ends of a continuum instead of describing the two halves of a line – Wayne Shumaker)…

If you, like me, accept the story of creation, then you understand that it all started with an Apple! The "it" is man’s (woman’s) constant challenge to manage change. In pre-apple days, change was not needed because everything was perfect.

When things are perfect, progress is unnecessary. Change ([as described by a modern day philosopher] is not progress but change is the price we pay for progress), was necessitated when we had to start over – from a less desirable beginning!

Change is the transition from today through tomorrows. Change management is the capitalizing on opportunities and solving problems as we move through this transition.

Today and since the beginning of time, all of human existence has focused on the pursuit of what our ancestors once had – the Perfect World, Paradise! Unfortunately, our future is not as simple as it was on humanity’s first day, because we no longer agree on Perfect – even though we do agree on its desirability and our need to pursue it.

The role of Leadership was necessitated by this search for "better". The process of leadership begins with a definition of REALITY (DePree – "the first role of a leader is to define reality") and proceeds to a vision of the future IDEAL. The process of implementation is designing and building a "bridge" between these two points.

In concept this is incredibly simple – in reality it is very challenging. The reason is FOLLOWERS. The one absolute prerequisite for a leader is followers and followers create the challenge in managing change.

You see REALITY is. Reality is a fact – an absolute. Reality can be changed but only through a change in the environment, circumstances, elements, conditions, etc. By intervention we can create a new reality.

Unfortunately, in dealing with imperfect (post-Apple) people, we discover that they are different and their experiences are different. This results in each having a different PERCEPTION of reality.

Perception – n… 3 a: awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation b: physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience…

Leaders – managers of change must first define reality. Analysis is the tool for this definition process. The "Vision thing" is relatively easy, because it doesn’t yet exist except in the mind and soul of the leader. It isn’t real – it’s what can be! No one can dispute an individual or organization’s Vision – it is what he or she wants his or her future REALITY to be.

In concept, management of change is easy. It requires good leaders and willing followers. Unfortunately, management of change must be implemented in concrete. To be effective, it must work in the real world. The challenge is followers with different PERCEPTIONS of REALITY.

How do you change perception? This is where the Apple can complete the continuum. Show the followers an apple and ask its color. They will define the apple you are holding – red, green, golden, etc. Ask the question again and although they’ll suspect a "trick question", they’ll name the same color. They’ll provide you with their PERCEPTION of the color of the apple.

Bite into the apple and you expose its true color – white. The reality of apples is that they are white! Anyway you slice an apple, the majority color is white! Perception changed – reality established.

Reality is. Vision can be. To succeed as a leader you use the power of followers to create a new reality. To design and build the bridge from today to tomorrow, followers are the key! These followers must be more than involved, they must be committed. To obtain their commitment you must create SHARED VISION and most importantly SHARED PERCEPTION.

Henry Ford said it all, "If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right!" It’s all PERCEPTION! Maybe we shouldn’t say that "perception is reality" but rather that "reality is perception".

Articleappleleadership

December 1999