Organizational change pioneer Richard Axelrod explained in the first edition of Terms of Engagement why the old mechanistic approaches to change no longer worked, and offered four essential new principles that lead to an engaged organization: I. Widen the circle of involvement; II. Connect people to each other and ideas; III. Create communities for action; and IV. Practice democratic principles. Drawing on numerous examples from such companies as Hewlett-Packard, Mercy Healthcare, First Union Bank, and others, Dick explained how the four principles of the Engagement Paradigm enabled leaders to create energy and commitment instead of apathy and resistance. Recognizing the potential for misapplication, he also showed how engagement can disengage, and identifies potential pitfalls to avoid.
