When we think about continuous development of highly innovative technology, changing political environments, globalization and steep growth, tough competition, mergers and acquisitions, it’s a whirlwind of rapid change that fosters urgency. Urgency means a sense of pressing importance. To live out success factors, its crucial to be able to distinguish between a “true sense of urgency” and a “false sense of urgency.” In fact, distinguishing between them during the very first step of any kind of change can mean the difference between success and failure.

1. A
Sense
of
Urgency:
Part
1
When
we
think
about
continuous
development
of
highly
innovative
technology,
changing
political
environments,
globalization
and
steep
growth,
tough
competition,
mergers
and
acquisitions,
it’s
a
whirlwind
of
rapid
change
that
fosters
urgency.
Urgency
means
a
sense
of
pressing
importance.
To
live
out
success
factors,
its
crucial
to
be
able
to
distinguish
between
a
“true
sense
of
urgency”
and
a
“false
sense
of
urgency.”
In
fact,
distinguishing
between
them
during
the
very
first
step
of
any
kind
of
change
can
mean
the
difference
between
success
and
failure.
A
good
change
model
is
one
whose
leadership
adopts
and
promotes
a
culture
of
the
“right”
sense
of
urgency
throughout
the
company.
The
thought
leader
on
this
phenomenon
is
Harvard
MIT
Change
Expert
Dr.
John
Kotter,
who
says
that
50%
of
all
change
efforts
fail
during
the
first
step
of
change.
Why
do
they
fail?
Mainly
because
of
lack
of
vision,
communication
of
the
vision,
empowering
others
to
act
on
the
vision,
and
more,
the
lack
of
which
creates
a
false
sense
of
urgency.
In
many
cases,
the
opposite
of
a
right
sense
of
urgency
is
compliancy.
We
all
unconsciously
experience
complacency
to
a
certain
degree
in
certain
situations.
And
it
is
possible
to
see
problems
and
be
complacent
because
you
do
not
feel
tat
they
require
change
from
YOU.
On
the
other
hand,
people
having
a
true
sense
of
urgency
think
that
action
on
important
issues
is
needed
now
and
not
eventually
when
it
fits
into
their
schedules.
“Now”
means
making
progress
every
day.
“Critically
important”
means
that
acting
upon
it
is
central
to
success
and
winning.
To
illustrate
something
we
all
face
every
day,
a
sense
of
urgency
is
not
an
attitude
that
I
must
have
the
team
meeting
today,

2. but
rather,
a
positive,
focused
attitude
that
the
team
meeting
must
accomplish
something
important
today.