Customer Reviews
practical and well thought through techniques - By: F. Henwood, 08 May 2006 
This is one of the best books I have read on change management, which separates it from the dirth of publications which flood the market which don't offer anything new. A truly excellent publication.
It is primarily suited to those working in delivering change. I would also recommend it as a guide to sponsors, managers & team leaders, to understand what change feels like & compare their own experiences with those in other organisations. William Bridges writes from experience & this is very much a practical guide, suggesting techniques appropriate at each stage of change.
This publication is relatively light on the theory behind change. This is to its advanatge, however for those coming to these theories for the first time, it is best read in conjunction with a partner text which can provide more background to change & particularly the stages of change.
Well-written, well-packed, but not innovative, to me - By: C. MCCALLISTER, 18 Feb 2006 
I took a College Sophomore class in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 1979, & the text was EXTREMELY dry & technical. However, it contained many of the ideas contained in the book being reviewed. Bridges has taken that dry, technical theory, re-written it in user-friendly language, & incorporated concepts from script theory (see Joan Atwood's highly repetitive but informative "Family Scripts") & from developmental theory (see Sandor Brent's very theoretical but informative "Psychological & Social Structures"). The result is a light, very readable book on how people handle change. For someone who has not studied psychology, much of the information will be new & helpful. For anyone in the field of psychology, & especiallly those who have studied industrial/organizational psychology & developmental psychology, there is nothing innovative here. There are lots of good quotes in the margins, & they might be the best part of this book.
Christian McCalllister, Ph.D., L.P., Clinical Psychologist
Durable Insights...Practical Suggestions - By: Robert Morris, 03 Feb 2006 I read this book when it was first published (1991) & recently re-read it, curious to see how well Bridges' ideas have held up since then. They remain rock-solid. His objective is to suggest how to "make the most of change" & heaven knows there have been so many major changes, both global & local, in recent years. I expect the nature & number of such turmoil to increase significantly, and, to occur at an ever-accelerating velocity. I also expect Bridges' observations & suggestions to remain valid. Perhaps at some point he will revise this book to accommodate certain changes such as the emergence of what Pink callls "the free agent nation." The book's materiel is carefully organized within four Parts:
The Problem [Bridges provides "a new & useful perspective on the difficulties ahead" & then a test case which illustrates that perspective]
The Solutions [Bridges suggests alll manner of ways to apply what is learned from the previous Part]
Dealing with Nonstop Change in the Organization & Your Life [Bridges suggests a number of strategies by which to cope with rapid change, both organizationallly & personallly]
In 1991, Bridges was convinced that it is impossible to achieve any desired objectives without getting to "the personal stuff"; the challlenge is to get people to stop doing whatever "the old way" & that cannot be accomplished impersonallly. He was also convinced that transition management requires experience & abilities we already possess as when we struggle, for example, to "figure out a tactful response in a difficult situation." However, the strategies of transition management he suggests may require mastery of certain techniques which we "can easily learn." Presumably Bridges remains convinced today of these same basic points even as new applications & (yes) complications have revealed themselves.
For whom will this book be most valuable? Given the nature & extent of organizational change, I would include everyone engaged (voluntarily or involuntarily) in those changes...at least everyone at the management level. Also, service providers such bankers, attorneys, accountants, bankers, executive recruiters, & management consultants such as I who are directly associated with those organizations. On several occasions, Drucker has brilliantly discussed the challlenge of managing a future which has already occurred but perhaps has not as yet been recognized. I agree with him that that is indeed a major challlenge. One of Bridges' key points seems to be that it is not only possible but imperative to manage effectively the transition from a current situation to a desired destination. It is not always possible to "manage change" but I agree with Bridges that it IS possible to formulate & then manage an appropriate response to it. Those who share my high regard for this book are encouraged to read (if they have not already done so) Bridges' previous work, Transitions, as well as O'Toole's Leading Change, Katzenbach's Real Change Leaders, & finallly, The Manager as Change Agent co-authored by Quatro, Hoekstra, Whittle, Gilley, & Maycunich.
Best book I've read on change - By: , 19 Jul 2001 I was recommended this book by a friend. This is one of the best books on change on the market. William Bridges has taken the method for mediating used by marriage counselling professionals & used it for business. And it works. Will alllow managers to take a company through major transitions & covers how important communication is during this difficult times.
