When House of the Dragon Season 2 felt like a bad change management meeting

As I watched Season 2 of House of the Dragon for last 8 weeks, I couldn't help but notice that the storytelling had some glaring issues. Ironically, these same issues often plague leaders when they're discussing change and transformation. Here's a look at the similarities between the show's storytelling and common change management mistakes:

1. Too Much Build-Up and Not Enough Story Imagine your CEO giving a rousing speech about the epic journey the company is about to embark on, only to leave you hanging without any concrete details. House of the Dragon's Season 2 had us waiting with bated breath for something – anything – to happen. But alas, just like some change management plans, it was all fluff and no substance.

Change Management Lesson: Don't keep your team on the edge of their seats forever. They might start using those seats as beds.

2. Filling Up with Q&A When You Have No Preparation Ever been in a meeting where the leader invites questions, only to respond with blank stares and vague answers? House of the Dragon's characters seemed to perfect this art. So many blank stares and cryptic looks, it felt like they were participating in an unprepared Q&A session.

Change Management Lesson: If you're going to open the floor to questions, make sure you actually have some answers. Otherwise, you're just hosting a staring contest.

3. Too Little Action, Too Much Planning -Season 2 spent so much time plotting and scheming that I started wondering if I was watching a medieval version of "The Office." Meetings about meetings, plans about plans – but when was the dragon actually going to, you know, do dragon things?

Change Management Lesson: Action speaks louder than PowerPoint slides. Plan enough to know what you're doing, but then actually do something.

4. Slow Storytelling I get it, building a narrative takes time. But at some point, you need to move the story forward. The show's pace was slower than a snail on vacation, mirroring how some leaders talk about change. By the time you get to the point, everyone's either forgotten the beginning or fallen asleep.

Change Management Lesson: Keep things moving. Your team should feel like they're part of an exciting adventure, not a never-ending bedtime story.

5. One Glorious Moment: The Battle of Rook's Rest The Battle of Rook's Rest was an epic, 10-minute spectacle of brilliance that had us all on the edge of our seats. But unfortunately, 10 minutes of brilliance isn't enough to save eight hours of mediocrity. It's like having a single successful project review in a year filled with lackluster updates.

Change Management Lesson: Consistency is key. One moment of excellence can't compensate for prolonged periods of underperformance. Aim for steady, continuous improvement rather than relying on occasional bursts of brilliance.

In conclusion, House of the Dragon Season 2 and ineffective change management have a lot in common. Both need to strike a balance between build-up and action, preparation and spontaneity, and speed and deliberation. So, the next time you're leading a change initiative, remember: don’t let your story drag on like a dragon’s tail!