Urgency, Not Panic

John Kotter, whose work I have referred to in previous posts, has authored a new book entitled A Sense of Urgency. In earlier books Kotter identified creating a sense of urgency as the first step in leading change. In this latest book he explores this critical step in more depth. The book comes at an appropriate time. The world economy currently appears to be primarily panic driven. Those who would survive the current chaos must transform panic into urgency.

Kotter describes a true sense of urgency as a drive to win now. Urgency is a positive and focused force. There is recognition that action on critical issues is needed now. Unproductive activities are quickly jettisoned. Effort is put into that which is productive.

Kotter explains four tactics for creating urgency. Bringing the outside in involves connecting the organization with external opportunities and dangers. Second is behaving with urgency every day. Finding opportunity in crisis is the third tactic. The last tactic is removing or neutralizing those internal players who would dampen a sense of urgency. Refer to Kotter’s book to discover how to implement these four tactics.

Current circumstances call for urgent action. Kotter seeks to guide us in leading such action.