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Book Comments:
What lead me to write a book
about change?
During 2004, I had somewhat of an epiphany while completing an accreditation
review for COA (Council on Accreditation). For the first time, I realized the
significance of the CQI (continuous quality improvement) process in improving
both public and non-profit human service organizations. Because of my extensive
background in private, public and non-profit human service organizations, I set
a goal to do all that I could to improve service delivery.
Secondly, I realized the importance of employee buy-in to this process. One
employee that I interviewed during a site visit helped me realize that CQI
could be seen as an individual and a group process in addition to being an
organizational process. I reference this in Chapter 14 – The Next Step.
I immediately went about submitting a proposal to present at the 15th Annual
Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) in Boston, MA. My topic was
about how to assure employee buy-in to a CQI process. At this point, I felt as
if I truly had the keys to the kingdom to help improve service delivery.
I had worked in successful for-profit companies, reviewed topnotch non-profit
organizations, and was serving as a team leader of the premiere accrediting
organization. I presented in April of 2005 and at each subsequent OCAN
Conference (Portland, OR in 2007 and Atlanta, GA in 2009). Also, I presented at
other conferences.
Although each presentation improved, I didn’t feel as if I was being heard or
understood at most conferences. However, I did feel very much heard and
accepted when presenting at the National COA Conference in NYC. Although this
was rewarding, this was really preaching to the choir because CQI (now called
PQI) was the backbone of the accreditation process.
During 2010, I reached a crossroads. Should I continue my national
presentations or should I throw in the towel? I decided to do neither, but
choose to change strategies. I decided to write a book about making and
maintaining change. The economy had tanked and people were suffering. The
parents in my parenting group at the local homeless shelter seemed to benefit
from my change classes. Why not try a shotgun approach?
I decided to write a book about making and maintaining change. This would offer
the general public a frame of reference for not only maintaining change, but
for making continual improvement in their lives. This information may, over
time, trickel-down to those who work with others.
Regardless of whether I achieve my mission of improving human service delivery,
I will make a difference in the lives of those who struggle with making and
maintain change. This is really a winning situation for everyone.
Why do I believe that focusing so much on sabotages is important?
I really don’t care what people do as long as their behavior doesn’t infringe
on the rights of others. People can sit on their couch, watch TV, drink beer,
eat pizza all day and think inane thoughts. However, if someone is trying
to make and maintain change, I do care about what people think, how he or she
spends their energy and time and where they put their focus.
A great deal of what people do and think is incompatible with making and
especially maintaining change. This is why the first four chapters of Stop the
Sabotage was written. Our culture has increased opportunities to focus on
others. Some “others” are interesting, but what celebrities, sports stars, or
participants on judge and reality shows do or don’t do doesn’t have anything to
do with you. A person wishing to make and maintain change must have a focus on
self and not others unless the “others” is part of a support network.
Since completing Stop the Sabotage, what has been the most difficult?
I believe in the importance of people knowing themselves. For this reason, I
believe that tests such as the Myers-Briggs give us insight into our
personalities. I have taken this test numerous times and I know that I am one
of the few people that prefer to complete a task and then quickly move on. I
score as an ENTJ - Rational. When I cannot move from one project to another at
a fast pace, I feel some level of discomfort.
After I submitted the manuscript of Stop the Sabotage, I was off and running
with a second book. Three chapters into this second book, I find myself now
having to focus on promoting Stop the Sabotage. Naturally, I understand the
need to do this, but I can hardly wait to get back to writing the next book.
Knowing my personality helps me cope with the discomfort of stopping a task and
continuing with a previous task.
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