The process of organizational change involves both additions and subtractions. New, more promising components are added as old, inadequate components are removed. It is always easier to add than to subtract. People don’t mind the contribution of new ideas quite as much as they disdain the loss of existing norms.
In change leadership, credibility is of obvious importance. And this credibility can be best gained through the addition of new ideas before pursuing the subtraction of old norms. It is easy to believe that old norms must be removed to make room for new ideas. However, this is not the case. Build credibility with the successful addition of new ideas in order to use that credibility for the successful subtraction of old norms.
In with the new. before. Out with the old.
