>Home>On the bench> Managing change - USA style

From: CEO
To: All players on the team

We’re moving towards the big grunt but it’s not a whole new ball game. So the objective of this memo is not to get down to the real nitty-gritty of ‘Project RedNeck’ but to briefly orchestrate the scenario in a concise summarization so you can pinpoint your spot in the big picture.

Because we already have a ballpark profile you don’t need to boil the ocean. Most of the key players are on the pitch and the seed catalogue allows you to do some real evaluation of the positioning.

Also we’ve taken some time to carefully use the one foot in the water approach, and although we’ve only looked at strategic headquarters in terms of briefly opening the kimono to get a quick gut feel, you shouldn’t think we have to rush in like gangbusters.

But on the other hand, don’t lean over backwards to maintain a low profile. You must role model it so that, by watching you walk the talk, your people can get a grip on ‘Project RedNeck’ hot buttons.

If you are seen to be iffy you’ll find yourself between a rock and a hard place because your people won’t want to salute the new strategic deal we’ve run up the flagpole.

You have to convince them they haven’t lost a womb-to-tomb deal. If you don’t, the whole ball of wax will turn into a can of worms which will come at you from way out in left field - and then you won’t have the capability in terms of hard resource to knife and fork a solution.

So let the ideas bubble so you can wrap them up and fold them in. You know how to fish and cut bait so what you’ve got to do is bite the bullet because this is no time to sit at home with your soft shoes on.

And remember, at the end of the day we can do a fundamental re-write job on the whole scenario and move the goal posts.

I’ve made this memo straight and clear and easy to get a handle on, with no kite flying, so you know exactly what I need you to do.