Leading Change Continual Learning, Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Service Motivation, Strategic Thinking, And Vision The purpose of this report is to discuss the process of leading change as a core qualification and how it encompasses an ability to develop and implement an organizational vision that integrates key national and program goals, priorities, values, and other factors. Even though the need for change is a concept that is recognized and acknowledged, instituting change and change policies is still a very difficult process and guaranteeing that a required change actually takes hold of the long-term is even more difficult a process to manage. In the 1995 book by John P. Kotter, professor of leadership at Harvard Business School showed that businesses often have many common errors when managing organizational change. For example, the Harvard report found organizations allowing far too much complacency, fail to create sufficient guiding coalitions, they underestimate the power of vision, they under-communicate the change vision, they permit obstacles to block the vision, they fail to create short-term wins, they declare victory too soon and they neglect to anchor...

Thus, the ability to balance change and continuity is the foundation of a work environment that encourages creative thinking and handles adversity.
Change and leadership through change are a major concern in all aspects of the business spectrum today. An example of these concerns can be seen at the VA. Although a cabinet level organization since 1989, the Department of Veterans Affairs did not have an effort focused on protocol services. The organization needed an effort that directly advised, assisted, and supported development activities for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and the Chief of Staff on official matters of national and international protocol, and in the planning, hosting, and officiating of related events and activities for visiting heads of state, members of Congress, senior Veteran Service Organizations (VSO's), and diplomats. This was a challenge during the first year of the 2001-2004 administration when the department received visits from senior U.S. And foreign dignitaries to include the Vice President of the United States and Minister of Veterans Affairs for The Republic of Korea. After learning of several challenges with VA events…