Change Leader Lessons from Zia Leda

Succession. No, not the show but the property inheritance law in Italy. Succession means multiple heirs become co-owners of an estate.??So, our aunt, Zia Leda, needed to get the okay from her deceased husband’s heirs – all of them – for us to purchase her house. Fortunately, our family is not like the Roy family and the approval process sailed through with ease. The day we signed the deed, several carloads of us made our way to the notary’s office. Following the legal handover with many signatures from those around the conference room table, we turned to the sentimental one with lots of prosecco and pizza around my kitchen table.??Zia Leda was full of joy and appreciation that we would reside part-time in the home in which she raised her children with her husband Franco, a home full of love and memories. We toasted Franco and we toasted our new home.

Even when change brings about good things, it is still emotional. Whether it is selling a business or changing leaders, we are wise to model Zia Leda. Now when Zia Leda visits our apartment she asks, as is the Italian way, “Permisso?” before entering, showing respect that it is now our home. And we honor Franco’s legacy by keeping his name on our mailbox and his treasured belongings in our attic.??????????????

Leading change means honoring legacies while creating new traditions. It is common in M&A or a reorg to hold what is called a closing ceremony, often with pizza. These rites of passage remind us to value what came before and to treasure the memories we created. They mark a shift that will be witnessed and hopefully welcomed.

Everyday Zia Leda prepares lunch for her family: sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and if we are lucky, us. One afternoon as we were heading out, we saw Zia Leda standing alongside the road. When asked what she was doing, she told us she was waiting for her granddaughter to get off the school bus for lunch.??The weather had turned chilly, so she had a sweater which she would wrap around Sophia’s shoulders.??Zia Leda takes care of her family in many individual ways.??Having beer versus wine for her grandson, making egg-free pasta for her granddaughter, and ensuring Sophia can eat at a pace that allows time to practice gymnastics before returning to school. She makes sure that everyone experiences the community of the family lunch while serving their individual needs. Yes, it takes more time but to Zia Leda it is worth it.

Leading change means enabling everyone to feel special and no one to feel left out. As change leaders, we need the capacity to adapt our approach to reach a common goal. Some people may need more information, others less.??Some people may need encouragement to try new things, while others want to get on with it. Valuing differences doesn’t take the substance away from anyone’s lunch.

On our walks through town, we noticed pink and blue bows on many doorways.??The bows signify the birth of a baby girl or baby boy in that family. The bows may adorn the doors of parents, grandparents or other family members. In October, we were lucky to be in Arcevia for the birth of Zia Leda’s new great-granddaughter. As we walked across the road to have a goodbye lunch, Zia Leda's gate was adorned with five pink ribbons which went up quickly after getting the good news. Everyone’s heart was a little fuller that day and the sun a little brighter. Zia Leda glowed with the knowledge that there was one more heir to sit around the table in the home Franco built for that very reason.??A larger home that could accommodate a growing family around a gigantic table.

Leading change means recognizing and celebrating milestones. We look for ways to highlight not only the collective wins but the individual ones as well. And as change leaders, we should advertise with great big bright bows when our teams knock one out of the park. Put out the multicolored bows no one can miss to show how awesome our teams truly are.?

In essence, a great change leader respects the past, values our differences and celebrates the wins.?