As part of a discussion of a proposed major restructuring, you point out that major change attempts work best when there is a "burning platform." Your boss disagrees, saying, "That's motivating with fear. We need to change before the platform is on fire." Take a position for or against your boss's argument.

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The Answer is On a descriptive level, the statement that major change works best when there is a strong felt need, such as a "burning platform," is correct. As your boss says, though, it may be possible to create felt need in other ways, such as through presenting a compelling vision of future possibilities. Compared to a "burning platform," though, such future possibilities are generally less immediate and tangible, and their appeal may depend on the leader's ability to develop, communicate, and reinforce a compelling vision. Further, the statement that pointing to a "burning platform" is motivating with fear is arguable. Motivating with fear generally implies that the person in a position of power will use coercive power if someone doesn't behave in a particular way. In the case of a "burning platform," the leader is simply pointing to a salient external threat. While that may instill concern or fear, the fear is based on a real environmental danger rather than on the leader's coercive power. Your boss, though, makes a good point in saying that it may be best not to wait until the platform has caught fire; planned change is generally preferable to reactive change.

As Part of a Discussion of a Proposed Major Restructuring