Institute for Organization Management - A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • About
    • General Information
      • Institute Policies and Procedures
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
    • Recruitment Toolkit
    • Prospective Student Toolkit
    • Media
    • Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
  • Curriculum
    • Core Curriculum
    • Elective Curriculum
    • Webinars & Resource Center
  • Sites & Dates
    • Winter Institute
    • Midwest Institute
    • Southeast Institute
    • Northeast Institute
    • 2024 Institute Schedule
  • Registration
    • Registration
    • Deadlines and Fees
    • Scholarships
      • Enrollment Incentives
      • State Partner Scholarship
    • How To Institute
  • Who’s Who
    • Staff
    • Volunteers
    • Faculty
    • Sponsors
    • Alumni
      • IOM Alumni Database
  • Blog
A PROGRAM OF THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
 

IOM Blog

January 24, 2018

To Change the World, Change the Word First

My mantra on change has always been, “People don’t mind change, they just mind being changed.” If you think about it, once we’re changed, things are normal again.

This week however, I want to focus on the word itself and why change may be so negative to most people. I believe subconsciously people see change as saying what we have been doing up until now.. is wrong. People then resent change.

It is my premise this week to suggest using another word; improve.

Imagine one of these two sentences coming from your board chairman:

“O.K., it’s time to change. Let’s change what we have been doing.”   Or..

“O.K., it’s time to improve. Let’s build on what we have been doing and improve it.”

Which sentence inspires you more to accept a new way of doing things? Test this the next time you hear people writing or talking about change and substitute the word “improve” every time they say “change.” We’ve done too much good work to change our organization but we can always… improve it.

      
Avatar photo
Pat McGaughey, IOM, CPF
President
ChamberMentor.com

Patrick H. McGaughey CPF, IOM is an international business consultant to chambers of commerce, industry associations, and private industry clients across the United States and Canada. His outstanding successes during his career as a broadcaster, chamber executive, and medical administrator have qualified him to share his expertise and skills with business executives and their teams coast to coast.
As an educator, Pat has been a faculty member of the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management since 2000. Pat has been selected to serve as the graduation keynote speaker at many past Institutes.
Pat earned his Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation by the International Association of Facilitators after facilitating hundreds of strategic and tactical planning sessions for chambers of commerce, industry associations, government, and private industry.
While Pat has facilitated hundreds of annual organization planning sessions, he is an excellent keynote speaker and is acclaimed one of the Top-5 Enter-Trainers in the United States for his ability to help people laugh a little and learn a lot at his seminars and business workshops.
Patrick H. McGaughey, CPF, IOM has received many civic awards and he has served in various leadership capacities including president of the Northwest Chamber Leaders Conference and president of the Idaho Association of Chambers of Commerce. He is an honored recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship Award, and he received the mayoral "Key to The City" for his outstanding community service in The Dalles, Oregon.
Pat and his wife, Gail, reside the beautiful resort community of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They havetwo children, five grandchildren and a fishing boat always geared up and ready for the beautiful lakes that surround them.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
DONATE NOW!
UPDATE CONTACT INFO
Sign-up for Emails
Consultations
Approved Provider
Approved Provider

About

  • General Information
  • Contact Us
  • Curriculum
  • Prospective Student Toolkit

Sites & Dates

  • Winter Institute
  • Midwest Institute
  • Southeast Institute
  • Northeast Institute

Resources

  • Scholarships
  • Faculty
  • Sponsors
  • Update Contact Info
  • Volunteers

Follow IOM

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
IOM Blog

Institute for Organization Management - A program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce © 2023 | Privacy Policy