The purpose of the chapter “Point to the Destination” of the book “Switch: How to change things when change is hard” is to help people understand how to implement the change. Heath & Heath (2010) contribute significantly to understanding of the concept of change. The authors provide insights into major strategies that can make the change effective. Thus, the authors note that it is essential to set goals so that employees could know where the company is moving. It is stressed that the goal has to be inspirational and it should be emotionally loaded. At the same time, when it comes to companies, targets should also be rationalized, otherwise, employees will be reluctant to work hard and achieve the aims.
Heath & Heath (2010) also note that companies are confined to short-term vision, which can often be harmful. To be truly effective, the change should incorporate significant transformations rather than minor changes. Of course, it is important to remember about developing certain strategies to achieve the goals. At the same time, it is useless to focus on the middle of the road, as it is essential to concentrate on the destination. Most importantly, it is crucial to set precise goals that have no ‘hiding places’. The goals have to be exact, as employees should understand that there is no way to underperform and they should concentrate on the goal.
The chapter is very informative and effective. The authors provide a number of examples to illustrate their points. The examples used are very conspicuous and appealing. Hence, the goal set by a teacher is an example of an emotional load in the goal. The authors also reveal experiences of companies known worldwide and leaders in their markets. These illustrations help the reader understand that implementation of changes is possible and crucial. Another strength of the article is its cohesion. The authors provide their arguments in a concise way. First, they introduce the point and then illustrate it with an example.
At the same time, the chapter also has certain downsides. One of these is the lack of a graphic presentation of the major points of the chapter. It would be beneficial if there were tables or graphs including major arguments of the chapter. The graph could be placed at the end of the chapter. There is also certain confusion when it comes to short- and long-term goals set in the company. First, it may seem that the long-term perspective is not appropriate for companies as it is necessary to come up with short-term manageable goals. Then, it turns out that the long-term vision is of paramount importance for organizations. The authors should strengthen this part of the chapter.
I find the chapter very helpful as it outlines major issues associated with the change and ways to overcome them. The chapter is written in simple words and is appropriate for a very wide audience. Real-life examples make the chapter effective. The part concerning hiding places is especially appealing. It also becomes clear that the steps provided can be employed in a variety of settings. A leader in any field can utilize them. Business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals can all benefit from the use of the strategies outlined.
It is possible to conclude that the chapter provides valuable insights into peculiarities of the effective change. Leaders operating in different spheres can learn a lot from the chapter and be able to implement the change. Of course, there are numerous aspects of the issue and a lot of them remained uncovered but the chapter outlines some of the most important concepts and strategies that can and should be utilized.
Reference List
Heath. C., & Heath, D. (2010). Switch: How to change things when change is hard. New York, NY: Crown Business.