Getting Real

By Brian GormanPublished On: November 21st, 2017

You may be approaching your role as a change practitioner from a position of leadership; or, yours might be strictly a position of influence. Either way, there are lessons to learn, and skills to develop, in Edith M. Onderick-Harvey’s Getting Real: Strategies for Leadership in Today’s Innovation-Hungary, Time-Strapped, Multi-Tasking World of Work.

While under 100 pages, this book is not intended as a quick read. Rather, it is intended to offer leadership coaching through a series of essays and questions for reflection and action over time. Onderick-Harvey begins with the premise that “leadership is about connecting who (leaders) really are with who their people really are and building an organization that will tap into each one’s very personal drive for excellence.” She offers seven “coaching series:”

What does it mean to be a leader now?
Getting real from the beginning: hiring that works
Coaching behavior, managing results
Money and contests don’t get you engagement
Get real about managing talent
Get real about innovation and change
Don’t stop now

Along the way she challenges you to address such core issues as your moral compass, trust, and culture. She challenges the casual dismissal of the individual self that so often happens in organizations (“There is an I in Team”). And, she provides insights into leading innovation. And all along the way, whether you are practicing change from a position of leadership or support, this little book has the power to support your growth and success.

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About the Author: Brian Gorman

Brian Gorman is the Managing Editor of Change Management Review™. In this capacity he regularly curates articles of importance to our readership; contributes original writing; hosts podcasts; and works with guest authors. For more than five decades Brian has been engaged in—and a student of—change at the personal, organizational, and societal levels. During this time, he has worked with both individuals and organizations (ranging from solo practitioners to Fortune 100 businesses), guiding them through a wide array of challenges. Decades of experience have given him a deep appreciation of the universal patterns that underlie successfully navigating even the most difficult changes. In addition to his work as our Managing Editor, Brian is a transformation coach, supporting both individual and organizational change. Brian is committed to passing his “lessons learned” on to others, so that their change journeys can advance more smoothly. He is a frequent workshop facilitator and public speaker. Brian is the author of “The Hero and the Sherpa,” a chapter in the online Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation (Springer Publishing; Judi Neal, Editor). He also has an extensive library of blog posts, articles, and videos on the change journey, including “The Ten Most Important Lessons I Have Learned Over 50 Years of Engaging Change.” Mr. Gorman’s formal education includes a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Syracuse University, an MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas, San Antonio and an MA in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Brian is an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified coach, and is an active member in the New York City chapter. Brian is also a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the Gay Coaches Alliance.