"Is Change All in The Mind? A Study of Change Leadership, Leader Mindfulness and Change Success"

Abstract

Organizations today are faced with a context of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). This context gives rise to an ever growing need for organizations to engage with and implement continuous transformational change. However, research has shown a persistently high level of organizational change failure. This paradox of increasing need for change with significant difficulties in achieving successful implementation has given rise to considerations of alternative paradigms of change implementation. In essence it is suggested that a paradigm that conceptualizes change as a complex adaptive process of continuous transformation is seen to lead to higher levels of change success than the more established paradigm of “punctuated equilibrium”. This shift in focus leads to a need for higher levels of stakeholder involvement and engagement, presenting a need to consider the role and behaviors of leaders in achieving this. In turn this has led to an increase in the interest in the area of change l...