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In the final years of his life, Dr. W. Edwards Deming devoted his time and energy to the people principle—one of six principles of continuous quality improvement. This energy came because of his growing concern about how organizations treat people. Dr. Deming did not get started in his well-known quality career until around his fifties. At that time he voiced his viewpoint that 85% of "people" problems in organizations lie within the systems. By the time of his death he said, "I was wrong...it's more like 95%."
Dr. Deming goes on...
Real change doesn't happen in climates of fear where managers try to force or coerce people by manipulating extrinsic motivators such as punishment or rewards. Environments which promote fear destroy intrinsic motivation and ultimately the organization.
The job of leaders then is to create a setting which frees people to learn, improve and contribute within a framework of common purpose. The leaders job is to guide the development of a shared vision, mission, principles, goals, and plans. The job must also include continuous questioning of personnel policies, ethics, and other organizational and personal habits that may interfere with building cooperation and collaboration among all people in the organization.
"Transformation begins with me" is the rallying call for all people within the organization. Leaders must serve as the role models. Values, theory, or principles are the foundation for behavior and attitudes. These belief systems are critical to personal transformation.
Organizations may be able to change things fairly quickly on a surface level—they can form a few teams, make a few improvements, control their urge to blame people—but those changes are not transformational. The real transformation is the one that comes from changed values, theory and principles. Openness to fundamental personal change is essential.
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