I think the initial reactions to the recent general election results would sound something like this:

“Wow! Holy s*@#!”
“Wahliao-eh!”
“Adoi!”

Whatever the language, the exclamations of shock or surprise are not negative – they are just expressions of amazement. Most people that I have spoke to are actually quite happy with the way the election has gone. However, with the favourable winds of change, the Barisan Rakyat will now have to manage it well for the next four or five years. Otherwise, we would have lost a golden opportunity to institutionalise good governance in this rich and beautiful country.

To follow up on my previous posting, I think a course in Change Management is necessary for all new elected representatives. I certainly do not presume to be an expert in the subject. However, I know enough of the subject to know that not only the politicians need to learn it, but the public servants and the rakyat also need to be aware of it.

For a start, here’s an extract from the MIT website:

How can change management help me deal with change?
There are a number of ways change management helps people deal with change. Three key benefits include:

* Change management can help you recognize how powerful human dynamics are in any change effort, how they dramatically affect the final result, and how you can use that knowledge to attain the best possible outcome.

* A change management strategy can act as a map for guiding action and helping you “stay the course” rather than getting caught up in the complexity and tumult of change.

* Change management ideas and tactics can help you develop the relationships you need to maximize the effectiveness of a change.

For those who are serious about charting a course through the winds of change, I humbly suggest that they look further into the subject of Change Management online. By the way, here’s the MIT link on Change Management.

P.S. Now that Anwar Ibrahim is talking about forming a new government at the national level, it’s imperative that all politicians, directors of governmental bodies, NGO coordinators and others in similar positions, take heed of what’s required to manage change.