Kaizen Song: Change Agents

This kaizen song is inspired by and dedicated to each of the men and women, young and old, with whom I have been fortunate to learn about what it takes to make change happen.

Change Agents (to the music of Changes by David Bowie)

I didn’t know just what I’d signed up for
Now my head is spinning round
A million more excuses
Every time I thought we had agreed
The business case was quite concrete
And the team they sent to help me
Gave the shop floor not one glimpse
So proudly certified by some paper
“We did our projects and took that test”
Ch-ch-ch change agents
(Turn the p-d-c-a)
Ch-ch-change agents
No power, only influence
Ch-ch-ch change agent
(Turn the p-d-c-a)
Ch-ch-change agents
Just gonna have to adjust the plan
Penciled A3s
So you can erase mine
I watch the people nod their heads
But never leave their seats
Show passive resistance as
Milestone dates pass, I wonder why
Our savings budgets stay the same
The opinions they insist on
As we try to change their work
And the words of our consultants
“We’re quite aware of what you’re going through”
Ch-ch-ch change agents
(Turn the p-d-c-a)
Ch-change agents
More leadership, not more management
Ch-ch-ch change agents
(Turn the p-d-c-a)
Ch-change agents
What a pain
Stakeholders are not in alignment
Penciled A3s
So you can erase mine
Lean transformation, is teaching me
Change agents are the key to failure or a breakthrough
Ch-ch-ch change agents
(Turn the p-d-c-a)
Ch-change agents
Let’s go walk the flow together
Ch-ch-ch change agent
(Turn the p-d-c-a)
Ch-change agents
Every day somehow we get a little wiser
Penciled A3s
So you can erase mine
I write in pencil A3s
So you can erase mine

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