The Art of Change

Transforming Paradoxes into Breakthroughs

Jeff DeGraff, Staney DeGraff

• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Year: 2025
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9798890570703
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Decision Making
• Index: Business

In a world of unprecedented disruption, mastering the art of change isn't just an advantage—it's essential for survival.

Drawing from decades of work with global organizations, military commanders, and NASA leaders, Jeff and Staney DeGraff reveal how true transformation emerges not from avoiding contradictions, but from embracing them.

This groundbreaking book, the third installation in their comprehensive innovation series, introduces a revolutionary framework for understanding and leveraging paradox. Through rich storytelling and battle-tested strategies, the DeGraffs unpack seven fundamental contradictions that define transformative growth:

How do we achieve more by doing less? Why does certainty often lead to failure, while embracing uncertainty paves the path to breakthrough? When does resistance become the catalyst for change? The Art of Change demonstrates how these seeming contradictions hold the key to profound transformation—both personally and professionally.

This isn't just another business book—it's a practical philosophy for navigating complexity in dynamic environments. Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company, steering a non-profit through turbulent times, or seeking personal growth, you'll discover:

• A proven framework for turning obstacles into opportunities
• Practical tools for making better decisions in ambiguous situations
• Strategies for building resilience through embracing paradox
• Methods for driving innovation by challenging conventional wisdom
• Techniques for leading transformational change in any environment

The Art of Change completes a pioneering trilogy that establishes a comprehensive school of thought around innovation and transformation. Building on the foundations laid in their previous works, the DeGraffs provide their most sophisticated and nuanced exploration yet of how to drive meaningful change in complex systems.

Don't just manage change—master it. Learn how to transform paradoxes into breakthroughs and turn uncertainty into your greatest advantage. The Art of Change is your essential guide to navigating the contradictions that define our era and achieving lasting transformation in an increasingly fluid world.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction: Inviting Paradox In
• Chapter 1: The Paradoxical Mindset Cycle
• Chapter 2: We Seek to Change Others, but Can Only Change Ourselves
• Chapter 3: We Aspire to Transcend Our Own Limits, but Must Do So from within Them
• Chapter 4: We Use Facts to Change Minds, but Minds Aren’t Changed by Facts
• Chapter 5: We Set Goals for Change, but the Goals Change with the Change
• Chapter 6: We Try to Minimize Conflict, but Change Is Created by It
• Chapter 7: We Attempt to Avoid Failure, but All Learning Is Developmental and Requires Failure
• Chapter 8: We Endeavor to Align the Change, but Change Is Driven by Deviance
• Conclusion: Putting the Paradoxes to Work for You
• Discussion Guide
• References
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Authors