Make Waves encourages readers to step up and be the one to initiate change in their work and lives. Author Patti Johnson walks readers through the tools and techniques that they can use to create change in their own situations. Johnson elaborates on these tools even further to give readers a sense of how to encourage and instill these "wave-making" behaviors in others within their organization. Using several diverse case studies as illustrative examples, Make Waves highlights the important steps that individuals at any level can take toward positive change. By reinforcing readers' desires to contribute and make a difference, Johnson connects on an individual level and bridges the gap between that desire and the actions necessary to realize bigger changes. Change can be big or small. It is the act of stepping up that Johnson embraces, as well as the ripple effect on those around. Interviews with famous Wave Makers, as well as everyday people, illustrate why it is important to be the one to start change. Wave Makers profiled include: Clint Hurdle: Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates; believes in positive attitude and culture and changes the MLB clubhouse; this year leading the Pirates to their first winning season since 1992. Charley Johnson: Started Pay It Forward foundation. Joe Nussbaum: Started Big Event at Texas A&M when in college in the '80s and has continued to grow; largest one-day college community service day in the country and has been adopted by over seventy universities. Emma Scheffler: High school soccer player who started Insulin Angels, a nonprofit for children diagnosed with diabetes, after her own diagnosis; feared her dream of college soccer was over, so engaged other students and local hospitals after thinking about how to make her diagnosis a positive. Allen Stephenson: Started Southern Tide at twenty-two-years old when in med school and followed a passion to create a clothing line; built momentum by creating interest and participation on southern college campuses; they are now growing rapidly and it started with a great polo shirt.
This new edition provides a more current and timely view of change with the expansion of the section on the mindset of a WaveMaker and more current examples throughout the post-Covid world. New areas of focus are:
- How our thoughts drive our readiness to change
- Our personal “backpacks” and what we carry with us into every situation regardless of the facts, and the importance of knowing our “go-to’s” and triggers
- Our habits drive almost half of our daily decisions, yet a change requires us to approach our work and life differently.
- The most common obstacles to thinking like a Wave Maker.
Author Biography:
Patti Johnson is an author, instructor, and the CEO of PeopleResults, a change and organizational development consultancy she founded in 2004. She consults, speaks, and writes about how individuals and organizations start and create the
change needed to reach their goals.
Previously, Patti was a senior executive at Accenture, a global management consulting firm, where she played an essential role in creating new change service offerings, global talent programs, and providing expertise on complex changes
with numerous clients over 17 years.
After deciding to become an entrepreneur, she created PeopleResults and assembled a talented team of experts and trusted colleagues. PeopleResults has grown and now provides expertise to clients, such as PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, McKesson,
7-Eleven, Microsoft, and many others.
Patti enjoys being in the classroom and is an instructor on change for Southern Methodist University in Dallas and for the Bush Institute Women’s Initiative. She is also a frequent contributor and writer on change, leadership, and talent issues for
national media, including Entrepreneur, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, MONEY magazine, Fast Company, and SUCCESS magazine.
After growing up in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Patti’s home is in the Dallas area where she lives with her husband, Jim, and sons, Patrick and Will, when in town, and their two dogs, Lucy and Pawly.
