Hi. My name is Daryl Conner and I’m a methodology bigot.

The first step toward recovery for any of us who might have fallen into the “pit of arrogance” is to acknowledge the problem.

One of the reasons AA is so successful is that its members know first-hand the challenges of alcoholism. They also know all the ways people can kid themselves into thinking their problem is under control when it’s not. No one can be as supportive or as brutally honest with an alcoholic as another alcoholic can.

It is from this perspective that I am both empathetic and confrontive toward methodology bigots. I am one. (Yes, you read correctly. I used the present tense).

As with many deep-seated dysfunctions, healing from this destructive mindset is not a destination, it is a journey. Change methodology bigots don’t have a slight inclination toward one view—they insist that there is only one best and right way to deal with organizational transitions, and that, of course, is the method they adhere to. I spent many of my years as a professional change facilitator carrying this attitude (sometimes covertly, sometimes blatantly).

I began practicing our craft in the early 70s, when change management was just beginning to emerge as a formal designation. Much has unfolded in our field since then. In retrospect, it’s debatable whether there was ever a time methodology protectionism was justified. What is clear for me now, however, is that with the magnitude of change accelerating as dramatically as it has, holding exclusionary views about alternative approaches just doesn’t make sense. No single perspective can keep up with, much less adequately address, the advancing sophistication of the transformations our clients face.

I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling the need to promote an ecumenical rather than parochial way of thinking about change implementation. This series is meant to encourage all of us to move away from any separatist views we might have, and toward a wider, deeper acceptance and respect for the array of change execution approaches now available.

Oh, I can hear the naysayers: “Daryl, maybe you had a need to be more open to new ideas about change facilitation, but I’ve always been there and so have the colleagues I work with.” Well, I would have said the same thing at an earlier time. I never thought of myself as a methodology bigot, but I have come to realize that we all need to collaborate to a much greater degree if we are to deal with the accelerating change demands inundating the world. Maybe in the past this wasn’t the case, but by today’s standards, many of us are still far too insular and self-referencing.

The need for openness to new ideas is relative to the level of challenge being faced. Within the context of past change demands, a case can be made that none of us were methodology bigots. Today’s measure of disruption, however, calls for many more creative partnerships among the different approaches and far more sharing of lessons learned across what has been historically impenetrable boundaries. My hope is that we’ll all reconsider how receptive we are to what others are learning about facilitating change.

Easier Said Than Done

We can reshape tendencies, and even some habits, relatively quickly, but pigheadedness is a different animal. Because of the depth of the problem, circumscribed thinking doesn’t disappear simply because someone recognizes it for what it is. Nor does it evaporate as soon as one makes a decision to stop operating that way. Methodology bigotry is like one of those exotic parasites from some God-forsaken country…once you get it, it’s yours for life to either manage or not.

Deep prejudice of any nature, once embedded, is virtually impossible to eradicate. Awareness, insight, and commitment to a new course of action will certainly reduce, if not eliminate, many of the visible symptoms, but not necessarily the underlying problem.

It’s hard enough to form alternative frames of reference and priorities, along with their accompanying behaviors, but ingraining new mindsets requires years of repetition. Take it from a card-carrying recovering methodology bigot—the transition is not easy or fast. It is something you must always be vigilant about; it does not automatically go away with just an epiphany.

Next: Take Your Medicine Whether You Feel Sick or Not

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