Books for the Brain on Change

What books would you recommend for someone new to change management?

That's what we were asked by a Six Sigma expert on a recent "Getting Ready for CCMP™" coaching call. Knowing that the community of professionals involved in change are a very helpful bunch, we reached out to ask what they would suggest. That request became one of our most highly 'engaged' posts with lots of interaction. We promised to summarize the responses, and here they are!

What's interesting about the suggestions is the low level of repetition and sheer diversity of the recommendations. Change management is not a uni-dimensional discipline; it blends so many aspects of motivation, communication, leadership, social psychology and learning theory.

If an individual offered a helpful comment about the book we included that in brackets after the author. If you have additions, please leave us a comment!

Here is what people suggested (in no particular order).

About Change Management

Change Intelligence: Use the Power of CQ to Lead Change That Sticks by Barbara Trautlein (Change Catalysts) **ACMP Qualified Education Provider™
Leading Change by John Kotter **ACMP Qualified Education Provider
The Change Leader's Roadmap and Beyond Change Management by Linda Ackerman Anderson, Dean Anderson
Managing at the Speed of Change: How Resilient Managers Succeed and Prosper Where Others Fail by Daryl R. Conner
Change Management: The People Side of Change by Jeffrey Hiatt, Timothy J. Creasey (Prosci) **ACMP Qualified Education Provider
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges
Changing the Way We Change: Gaining Control of Major Operational Change by Jeanenne Lamarsh
Influencer: The Power to Change Anything by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler
The Effective Change Manager's Handbook: Essential guidance to the change management body of knowledge by Richard Smith (Editor) / APMG
The Change Monster: The Human Forces that Fuel or Foil Corporate Transformation and Change by Jeanie Daniel Duck (The book contrasts two corporate change stories – a good one and a bad one. It is a quick, easy and engaging read.)
Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models, Tools & Techniques of Organizational Change by Esther Cameron, Mike Green (It's a practical book that combines contemporary management theory with very practical suggestions.)
Sustaining Change in Organizations by Hodges, J. & Gill, R.
Managing and Leading People Through Organizational Change: The Theory and Practice of Sustaining Change Through People by Julie Hodges
A Pocketful of Change by Peter de Jager
Managing Organizational Change During SAP Implementations by L. Galoppin and Siegfried Caems (Covers all the change management aspects you need for an ERP project implementation.)
All Change!: The Project Leader's Secret Handbook by Eddie Obeng (Recommendation for a new PM looking to understand what change management is really about.)
Learning to Change by Dr. L. Caluwe and Hans Vermaak. (It's an older publication but still very insightful, practical and comprehensive.) Get a peek inside here.
The Eight Constants of Change ... What Leaders Need to Know to Drive Change and Win by Stacy Aaron, Kate Nelson (Change Guides) **ACMP Qualified Education Provider
The Change Management Pocket Guide by Kate Nelson, Stacy Aaron (Change Guides) **ACMP Qualified Education Provider
Change the Culture, Change the Game by Connors and Smith
The Method and the Magic by Laurie Axelrod and Beth McDonald
Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John P. Kotter, Holger Rathgeber. (Easy read, powerful and practical about the change journey.)
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Covert Processes at Work : Managing the Five Hidden Dimensions of Organizational Change by Robert J. Marshak, Ed Schein (Foreword by)
99 Ways to Influence Change by Heather Stagl (Enclaria) **ACMP Qualified Education Provider
Lean Change Management by Jason Little (Great read on understanding & navigating change in a new Agile environment)
The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves by The Arbinger Institute. (Their work of mindset shift goes deeper than behaviors alone, creating a lasting transformational effect)
That's Not How We Do It Here!: A Story about How Organizations Rise and Fall--and Can Rise Again by John P. Kotter , Holger Rathgeber **ACMP Qualified Education Provider
Transformation Thinking by Joyce Wycoff
ADKAR: A model for change in business, government and our community by Jeff Hiatt

Also of note, Paul Thoresen kindly directed us to a short list of change books reviewed by members of the Minnesota Change Management Network.

Personal Change; Sustaining Change

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein
Managing Flow: A process theory of the Knowledge-based Firm by Ikujiro Nonaka, Ryoko Toyama and Toru Hirata
Grit: Passion, Perseverance and the Science of Success by Angela Duckworth

Your Brain on Change

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Your Brain at Work by David Rock
Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness by Daniel G. Amen

Submitted by Michael, here is a top ten list for books to read to change your mind.

Modern Thinkers on Change

Switch by Dan and Chip Heath (A great book that every manager should read to understand the dynamics of motivation and self-control.)
Drive by Daniel Pink (Does a great job of explaining what motivates us.)

GROUPS AND TEAMS

Extraordinary Groups: How Ordinary Teams Achieve Amazing Results by Geoffrey M. Bellman, Kathleen D. Ryan

Communication and Connection

Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies and Symbols by Nancy Duarte, Patti Sanchez
Crucial Confrontations: Tools for Resolving Broken Promises, Violated Expectations, and Bad Behavior by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler
Getting Past No: Negotiating in Difficult Situations by William Ury
The Managed Heart - Commercialization of Human Feeling by Arlie Russell Hochschild (Provides a rich understanding of emotions at the workplace which fits in nicely with any change management initiative)
The Carrot Principle by Chester Elton

Why not?

Real Coke, the Real Story by Thomas Oliver, 1987. (It's out of print but if you can find it, it's a fascinating read. Leaves you wondering, was New Coke the biggest blunder of all time or the greatest marketing ploy ever.)
Transitions by Julia Cameron (A prayer and reflection book that I have found useful as a leader)

Did we miss any? Let us know!

Thanks to everyone who shared!