With apologies to our friends in Ohio, the Cleveland Browns professional football team has been historically bad for decades, routinely changing quarterbacks and firing coaches. True, the Browns were on the upswing in 2018. Still, consider the New England Patriots. The Pats have had one coach and one starting quarterback since the turn of the century. They’ve also won six Super Bowl Championships. This provides key reminders: 1) change is not always good; 2) quick fixes are an illusion; and 3) moving from one “flavor of the month” to another is frivolous and damaging.
From professional football teams to energy companies, organizations need to be mindful when approaching change. Strong organizations always strive for continuous improvement. Smart ones do it in thoughtful, systematic ways.