“To survive and succeed, every organization will have to turn itself into a change agent.” — Peter Drucker
More than ever, we live in interesting times. The insatiable appetite to be on top led to sophisticated and innovative schemes/structures. Everything has consequences, though, and oftentimes, the extent of the likely occurrences of “damages and risks” is at best an estimate.
An organizational development consultant says, “The winds of change are life generating opportunities but the waves of development invariably require order and stability. There is always a paradox in every change. As a law of life, out of order comes the need for change, but out of change comes the need for order. The order and norms of things require the system to take stock of breath to settle down for stability and sustainability.”
To have order, the agent of change must be a role model and must have the credibility and respect of all. Large-scale change programs are successful only when they are led from the “top” by committed and honest change agent leaders. More important, the programs should be implemented with purpose and passion anchored on discipline.
Peter Senge describes a leader with personal mastery as someone who constantly strives to see current reality clearly and understands that there may be differences between her or his perceptions, mental models and true reality.
The encouraging results of economic development put the country as one of the performers in this side of the world. Against this good news, the pursuit of changes in our country is so widespread—the system of government, educational system, taxation, laws, regulations, international alliances and more. We should welcome change for the greater good. It is recommended that each player attempt to rise above the perceptions, the over-emphasis of negative information and even fake news, and seek out the positive developments as closely as the negative developments are sought out for them. May those taking the lead be real role models, committed and honest. May they share good deeds and exercise discipline leading all to a better life.
As a people and for our own sake, we should pull our act together and care for ourselves. In the midst of these many changes, let our love of country prevail for nobody else will care for us. At the end of the day, history will judge all the players and all of us.
****
Dr. Conchita L. Manabat is the President of the Development Center for Finance, a joint undertaking between FINEX Foundation & the UP Virata School of Business. A past President of FINEX and past Chair of the International Association of Financial Executives Institutes (IAFEI), she is now the Chair of the Advisory Council of IAFEI. She is also a member of the Consultative Advisory Groups of the International Auditing & Assurance Standards Board and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants. She can be reached at clm@clmanabat.com.