Editor's Notes By Lori Turec

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I've noticed people embrace change when it is their own idea but resist when it's forced upon them. To thrive in this economic climate, we need to be accountable for making change work -- even when it is not our idea.
 
I recently saw a study that showed three of four major change initiatives in the U.S. failed to meet original objectives. The reasons listed included failure of leaders to show the importance of the change, lack of buy-in from the rank and file and lack of discipline to see the change through. When we see change after change fail, we become a nation that does not trust it as worth our time.
 
As meeting professionals this impacts us directly.
 
Too often people who should be coming to our events are not fully engaged in making positive change happen. They are waiting and seeing. They are on hold. They are working so hard they can only react instead of making choices to drive desired results. If they don't believe in the change, they certainly don't need to attend a meeting about it.
 
When change initiatives fail, most people do not hold themselves accountable. They point fingers at others.
 
They blame leadership for not knowing what it really wanted. They blame an economy that has hit many of us hard. The blame the venue and claim attendees simply won't travel to that city. And they blame slashed budgets.
 
Blaming others for setbacks does not stop setbacks. To succeed in this business and this environment, we need to change.
 
Successful meetings are still about making advances, making connections, spreading news and building value.
 
It is more important than ever to not do business as usual. Be committed to providing a meeting that drives strategic changes your organizations have prioritized. Help keep the message in sync with leadership.
 
You may need change in your own career. If you have not been active in KCMPI - ask yourself what you could gain? What could you learn and what could you share? How would you and others be richer for the experience?
 
What changes are you accountable for now?