cleared the room, closed the door and began his investigation of the crime scene. When he emerged an hour later, a woman was waiting for him outside the door.
“My name is Anna,” she said. “I’ll be your assistant. I’ve been told to take care of whatever you need.”
McNally knew who the primary suspects were. He had done this many times before. The usual suspects were always the same. He opened his notebook and looked at the list he’d prepared:
1 Culture—defines the predominant attitudes, beliefs and behavior patterns that characterize the organization
2 Commitment—builds a person’s motivation and confidence to engage in the new behaviors required by the Change
3 Sponsorship—a senior leader who has the formal authority to deploy resources (e.g., time, money and people) toward the initiation, implementation and sustainability of the Change; ultimately responsible for the success of the Change
4 Change Leadership Team—actively leads the Change into the organization by speaking with one voice and resolving the concerns of those being asked to change
5 Communication—creates opportunities for dialogue with change leaders and those being asked to change
6 Urgency—explains why the Change is needed and how quickly people must change the way they work
7 Vision—paints a clear and compelling picture of the future after Change has been integrated successfully
8 Plan—clarifies the priority of the Change relative to other initiatives and responsibilities; works with those being asked to change to develop a detailed and realistic implementation plan, then to define and build the infrastructure needed to support the Change
9 Budget—analyzes proposed Changes from a financial perspective to determine how best to allocate limited resources and ensure a healthy return on investment (ROI)
10 Trainer—provides learning experiences to ensure those being asked to change have the skills needed to follow through with the Change and succeed in the future organization
11 Incentive—recognizes and/or rewards people to reinforce desired behaviors and results that enable Change
12 Performance Management—sets goals and expectations regarding behaviors and results that enable Change, tracks progress toward the goals and expectations, provides feedback and training and formally documents actual results versus desired results
13 Accountability—follows through with people to ensure their behaviors and results are in line with agreed upon goals and expectations and that leaders are walking the talk, and institutes consequences when behaviors or results are inconsistent with those that enable Change
McNally tore the sheet of paper from his notebook and handed it to Anna. “I need to interview these people as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m thinking thirty to forty-five minutes per person. Can you arrange that?”
“I’ll get right on it,” she said.
“Also, it would be great if you could get me a copy of the org chart, so I can see who works for whom,” McNally added.
The assistant had anticipated this request. She handed McNally a copy of the organizational chart. Then she was gone.
AT nine o’clock the next morning Agent McNally, sitting in the same conference room where Change had been killed, read through his file. He looked up as Carolina Culture entered the room. He knew she’d be his first interview but he would never have recognized her. Culture was small and unassuming, neither attractive nor unattractive. She had no distinguishing features, and he thought that if he passed her on the street, he probably wouldn’t notice her.
“Good morning,” said McNally, trying to hide his surprise. “How are you today?”
“Very well,” Culture responded. “And you?” Her voice was smooth and low.
“Good, good. Thank you very much.” McNally was thinking, Why am I asking her how she is? I don’t ask people how they are. I ask them questions about the crime.
Her voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Did you have some questions for me?” she said.
“Yes, I do. Where were you yesterday morning?” he asked.
“I was here. I’m here most all the time.”
McNally did not interpret her comment as either whining or martyrdom. It came across as just matter-of-fact. “Did you visit any departments?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. I make my rounds. I’m in every department most every day.”
“Did anyone see you up here yesterday?”
“That’s an interesting question,” Culture replied. “People here are really busy. And let’s face it—my role isn’t exactly high profile. So I really can’t answer that. You’ll have to ask them.”
McNally found himself straining to hear her. “How would you describe your relationship with Change?” he inquired.
Culture did not hesitate. “Discreet,” she offered.
McNally prodded, “Can you help me with that?”
“Change’s role is designed to be high profile,” she replied. “He consulted me a few times but, in general, it was behind closed doors.”
McNally replied, “He consulted you? Were you able to help him?”
“I think so. It’s hard to say. It’s not my style to micromanage. Since he never discussed any problem with me twice, I assumed he was able to work through the challenges he was facing,” she said.
“Micromanage—does that mean Change reported to you?”
“Oh, no,” Culture said. McNally thought he noticed a hint of a smile. “No one reports to me. I’ve been around here longer than you would believe. My role has always been to define the beliefs that guide how we operate here. You could think of my role as a compass that points in a direction, but it’s not a map that details how to get from point A to point B.”
“So, what was it that Change consulted you about last?” McNally asked.
“VALUES!” Culture replied so loudly that McNally found himself backing up in his chair. She continued at a volume that was much too loud for the size of the room and their proximity to each other. “Change wanted to use our organizational values to leverage what he was trying to get accomplished. I tried to teach him that if your actions are consistent with your values, you have a better chance of success.”
“And those values are…?” McNally asked in a soft voice that was perhaps an unconscious attempt to normalize her previous intensity. It didn’t work. Culture launched into an even louder monologue that McNally could describe only
