ABOUT STEVE: I have dedicated my career – as leader, consultant, speaker, coach – to understanding the realities of managing change and what it takes to successfully lead it. I was with McKinsey from 1978 to 1998, and in the later years was leader and founder of the McKinsey Change Center. At McKinsey I worked or consulted with close to one hundred companies and developed a clear view on what distinguishes real progress from the “dull twilight that knows neither victory or defeat.” (Note few transformation efforts are complete, resounding successes; though, unfortunately, many more are clear failures.) Also co-wrote “Real Change Leaders” that made the case for a “new breed of middle managers to connect CEO aspirations with front-line realities.” (In today’s lingo these would be “agile coaches.”)Since 2000, I have been in C-level positions for institutions of all shapes and sizes – but all facing significant “performance through people” challenges and the need for major change in strategy, skills, capabilities, culture, processes. You name it. The common denominator? A belief –born of research and experience – that organizations need to evolve (transform!) to do their best at serving their customers and employees. And a deep respect for the realities and complexities of building high performing organizations.