Their home is not safe.

What about yours?

Retold of the story by
Chulatep Senivongse
 About the book

Our Iceberg Is Melting is a simple fable about doing well in an ever-changing world. Based on the award-
winning work of Harvard's John Kotter, it is a story that has been used to help thousands of people and
organizations.

The fable is about a penguin colony in Antarctica. A group of beautiful emperor penguins live as they
have for many years. Then one curious bird discovers a potentially devastating problem threatening their
home and pretty much no one listens to him.

The characters in the story, Fred, Alice, Louis, Buddy, the Professor, and NoNo, are like people we
recognize even ourselves. Their tale is one of resistance to change and heroic action, seemingly
intractable obstacles and the most clever tactics for dealing with those obstacles. It's a story that is
occurring in different forms all around us today but the penguins handle the very real challenges a
great deal better than most of us.

Our Iceberg Is Melting is based on pioneering work that shows how Eight Steps produce needed change
in any sort of group. It's a story that can be enjoyed by anyone while at the same time providing
invaluable guidance for a world that just keeps moving faster and faster.
I Iwish
wishto
totell
tellyou
youaastory
storyabout
aboutaaflock
flockof
of
penguin
penguinwhowholive
liveon
onan
aniceberg
iceberginin
Antarctica,
Antarctica,the
theSouth
SouthPole
Pole
 This
Thisflock
flockofofpenguin
penguinhas hasbeen
beenliving
livingas
asaa
colony
colonyononthis
thisiceberg
icebergforforyears
yearsas
asfar
farback
back
as
asthey
theycan
canremember.
remember. They Theywould
wouldtelltell
you
youThis
Thisisisour
ourhome.
home.
They
Theylearn
learnto
tolive
livetogether
togetherininharmony
harmonylike
like
aabig
bigfamily.
family. Penguin
Penguinisismonogamy.
monogamy. TheThe
build
buildfamily
familywith
withlove
loveand
andmarriage.
marriage.
 Penguins
Penguinsalways
alwaysgogohunting
huntingfor
for
creatures
creaturesininthe
thesea
seaand
andspend
spendmuch
much
of
oftheir
theirtime
timewith
withfriends
friendsand
and
relatives.
relatives. Except
Exceptthis
thisone.
one.Fred.
Fred.
Fred
Fredisisvery
verycurious
curiousand
andobservant.
observant.

This is Fred. He
is watching the
sea
 Fred
Fredhad
hadaabriefcase
briefcasestuffed
stuffedfull
fullof
of
observations,
observations,ideas,
ideas,and
andconclusions.
conclusions.

One
Oneday
dayFred
Frednotice
noticean
aniceberg
iceberg
collapsed
collapsedinto
intomany
manypiece.
piece. Their
Their
home
homeisisbecoming
becomingfragile!
fragile!

Oh
OhboyI
boyI
have
havetotodo
do
something!
something!
Icebergs are not like ice cubes. The bergs can have cracks inside, called canals. The canals can lead to large
caves. If the ice melts sufficiently, cracks can be exposed to water, which would then
air bubbles called
pour into the canals and caves.
During a cold winter, the narrow canals filled with water can freeze quickly, trapping water inside the caves. As
the temperature goes lower, the water in the caves will also freeze. Freezing liquid expand dramatically
in volume, an iceberg could be broken into pieces.
 Show
Showme mehow
how
Alice,
Alice,our
our
itithappened.
happened.
home
homeisis
inin
danger!
danger!

Alice
Aliceisisone
oneof
ofthe
the
Leadership
LeadershipCouncil
Council
member.
member. She Shewas
wastough
tough
and
andhashasreputation
reputationof
of
getting
gettingthings
thingsdone.
done.

Fred
Fredtook
tookAlice
Alicetotodive
divedown
downthe
thewater
waterand and
pointed
pointedout
outfissures
fissuresand
andother
othersymptoms
symptomsof of
deterioration
deteriorationcaused
causedbybymelting.
melting. Alice
Alice
followed
followedFred
Fredinto
intothe
theheart
heartof
ofthe
theiceberg
iceberg
to
tosee
seeititwith
withher
herown
owneyes.
eyes.
 This
Thiswas
wasnot
notgood.
good. I Iwill
willprepare
prepare
I Imust
musttalk
talkto
toall
all presentation
presentationtoto
the
theleaders.
leaders. convince
convincethem
them

Alice
Alicewas
wasshaken
shakenby
bywhat
what
she
shehad
hadseen.
seen.

Fred
Fredfelt
feltrelieved
relievedas
assomeone
someoneelse elsehad
had
shared
sharedhis
hisworries,
worries,but
butfelt
feltworse
worseas ashe
hedid
did
not
nothave
havesolution
solutiontotoit.
it.
Louise
Louisewas
wasthe
thehead
headofofthe
the Alice
Alicewas
wasaapractical,
practical,
council and the most
council and the most aggressive,
aggressive, and makethings
and make things
respected
respectedofofthem
themall.
all. happen.
happen.

NoNo
NoNowas wasone
oneofofthe
thecouncil
council
member
memberwho whowaswas
responsible
responsiblefor
forweathering
weathering Buddy,
Buddy,handsome,
handsome,slightest
slightest
forecast.
forecast. Hewas
He was bit
bitambitious.
ambitious.
accustomed
accustomedtotobeing
beingblamed
blamed
for
forbeing
beingwrong
wrongininhis
his
forecast.
forecast.
 Fred
Fredprepared
preparedan an
iceberg
icebergmodel
modelmade
madeofof
ice
iceto
toshow
showtotothe
the
council.
council.
After
Afterseeing
seeingthe
the
demonstration,
demonstration,Louis Louiswas
was
hesitant
hesitantforforthe
theassumption,
assumption,
while
whileNoNo
NoNosaid saidNo
Noiceberg
iceberg
isisnot
notmelting.
melting.
 Can
Canyou
you
guarantee
guaranteethat
thathis
his
data
dataand
and I Icant.
cant. But
Butififour
ouriceberg
icebergbreak
break
conclusions
conclusionsare
are into
intopieces
piecesininwinter,
winter,would
would
100%
100%correct?
correct? many
manyof ofus
usdie?
die?

Imagine
Imagineparents
parentswhowho
lost
losttheir
theirchildren
children
come
comeandandask
askHow
How
could
couldthis
this
happened?
happened? What
What
were
wereyou
youdoing?
doing?
Why
Whydidnt
didntyou
you
foresee
foreseethe
thecrisis?
crisis? IfIfFred
Fredisisright,
right,we
we
will
willhave
haveonlyonlytwo
two
months
monthstill tillwinter
wintertoto
prepare
preparethings.
things.
 MUST
MUSTkeepkeep
this
thisas
asaa
Worrying
Worrying secret!
secret!
them
themisis
VERY
VERYbad
bad PANIC!
PANIC!
Dont
Dontwant
wantto
to
panic
panicanyone!
anyone!

Alice
Alicesaid
saidWe
Wemust
must
inform
informeveryone.
everyone.
We
Wemust
mustcall
callaa
General
GeneralAssembly
Assemblyof of
the
theColony.
Colony.

Louis
Louisneeded
neededproof
proofifif
the
theassumption
assumptionwas
was
not
notaamistake
mistakebefore
before
calling
callingthe
themeeting
meeting
 Before
Beforedeciding
decidingififtotocall
callfor
for
General
GeneralAssembly,
Assembly,Fred
Fred
proposed
proposedan anidea.
idea. With
Withaabottle
bottle
that
thathehefound
foundwashedwashedup upashore,
ashore,
and
andwas
washarder
harderand andstronger
stronger
than
thanice
icebut butasasmuch
muchas asclear,
clear,
HeHewould
wouldfill fillup
upthis
thisbottle
bottlewith
with
water,
water,sealsealititwith
withaacap,
cap,and
and
leave
leaveititininthe
theice
icefor
foraanight.
night. IfIf
the
thenext
nextmorning
morninghis hisassumption
assumption
was
wascorrect,
correct,the thebottle
bottlewill
willbe
be
broken.
broken.

We
Wehave
haveto
to
tell
tellEveryone.
Everyone.
The
Thenext
nextmorning,
morning,
they
theyfound
foundthe
the
bottle
bottlebroken.
broken.

Their
Theirnightmare
nightmare
came
cametrue.
true.
 Our
iceberg is Stop
melting? Something Complaining
has to be and start to
THINK!
done.

What will
happened
Oh Boy
to me?
Oh Boy

Lesson 1 : Create the sense of Urgency

 AAteam
teamof
of5--including
5--includingLouise,
Louise,Alice,
Alice,Fred,
Fred,
Buddy,
Buddy,and
andProfessor--is
Professor--isto
tothink
thinkofofaa
solution.
solution.

Lesson 2 : Pull Together the Guiding Team

 With
Withall
allour
our268
268
Lets
Letsdrill
drillthe
thefrozen
frozen birds helping hand-
birds helping hand-
ice
iceand
andrelease
releasethethe in-hand,
in-hand,ititwould
would
water
waterjust justlike
likethey
they take
take5.2
5.2years
yearstotodo
do
did
diditittotoananoil
oilwell.
well. that
that
 Lets
Letsmove
movetotothe
the
center
centerofofAntarctica
Antarctica We
Wewill
willbe
betoo
toofar
far
where
where ice isthicker
ice is thicker from
fromthe
thewater.
water.
and stronger
and stronger How
Howwill
willwe
weget
get
fish?
fish?
What
Whatabout
aboutusing
usingaa
superglue
supergluetotohold
hold
the iceberg?
the iceberg?

Thats
Thatsvery
veryfunny.
funny.
 ItItcould
couldbe
beveryverylost,
lost,but
but
Look
Lookup upthere!
there!The
Thebird.
bird. ititdoes not seem to
does not seem to be be
ItItcant
cant fly forever. ItIt
fly forever. afraid.
afraid. What
Whatififmoving
moving
must
musthave
havehomehomesome
some from
fromoneoneplace
placetoto
where.
where. another
anotherwas wasjust justthe
theway
way
ititlives?
lives?

You
Yousay
sayits
itsaa
nomad?
nomad?

Yes.
Yes. Moving
Moving
around.
around.

WeWewouldnt
wouldnttry
trytotofix
fixmelting
melting
icebergs.
icebergs. We would justface
We would just faceup
up
the
thefact thatwhat
factthat whatsustains
sustainsus us
cannot
cannotgo goononforever
forever. .
 The
Theidea
ideaisisnot
notnew.
new. We
We
had
haddone
doneititbefore.
before. That
That
was
wasour
ourfounder
founderofofthe
the
colony
colony when he movedtoto
when he moved
our
ourhome
hometoday.
today.

Lesson 3 : Develop Change Vision and Strategy

 We will
move and
move We will
not stick
to our ice.

Louise
Louisecalled
calledaaGeneral
GeneralAssembly
Assemblyagain
againto
to
inform
informthe
thenew
newstrategy.
strategy.
Lesson 4 : Communicate for Understanding and Buy-In
 AAscout
scoutteam
teamshould
shouldgo
go
and
andlook
lookfor
foranother
another
iceberg.
iceberg. Take
Takeyour
yourmen
menand
and Yes
YesSir.
Sir.
find such place.
find such place.
 There
Therewere
werenearly
nearlyaadozen
dozenbirds
birdsexpressed
expressed
interest
interestininbeing
beingscouts.
scouts.

NoNo
NoNoand
andfriends
friendswere
wereforecasting
forecasting
storms
stormsand
anddangerous
dangerouscurrents.
currents.
Gods
Godsare
aremad
madand
andwill
willpunish
punish
Teacher
Teachertold
toldthe
theyoung
younghow
how them.
them.
scary
scarythe
themoving
movingis.is.The
Theyoung
young
are
arescare
scareand
andstart
starthaving
having
nightmare.
nightmare.
Penguins
Penguinsneed
needaalotlotofoffood
foodtoto
build
buildup
upfat
fatfor
forwinter.
winter. TheThe
scout
scoutwould
wouldhave
haveinsufficient
insufficient
Some time
timetotofish.
fish.
Someleaders
leadersthink
thinkthe
theScout
Scout
team
teamshould
shouldneed
needaaleader
leader
and
andstart
startlobbying
lobbyingLouise.
Louise. This
This
cause
causeconflict
conflictamong
amongleaders.
leaders.

Words
Wordsofofmouth
mouthspread
spreadfor
for
obstacles from NoNo and the
obstacles from NoNo and the
feeding
feedingscout
scoutproblem.
problem. More
More Louise
Louisetold
toldNoNo
NoNo thatthathis
his
and
andmore
morediscourage
discourageand
anddid
didnot
not forecasting
forecastingservice
serviceisisnot
notneeded
needed
attend
attendthe
themeeting.
meeting. atatthis
thismoment.
moment.
I Ithink
thinkI Ideserved
deservedtotobe
bethe
thescout
scout
LEAVE
LEAVEME
MEALONE!
ALONE! Thats
Thats
leader.
leader. Please
Pleaseconsider.
consider.
ENOUGH!!
ENOUGH!!

Louise
Louisedealt
dealtwith
withall
allbothering
botheringlobbyist
lobbyistininaa
straight
straightand
anddirect
directway.
way.
 HiHiteacher,
teacher,I Iwould
wouldlove
love
you
youtototell
tellyour
your
students
studentshow howheroic
heroicitit
was
wastotododosomething
something
for
forthe
thecolony.
colony.

OK
OKButBut
can I kiss
can I kiss
you?
you?

Buddy
Buddyhelped
helpedtalking
talkingand
andconvincing
convincingthe
the
teacher
teachertotospeak
speakofofbravery
braveryto
tothe
theyoung,
young,
instead
insteadof
ofscaring
scaringthem.
them.
 SonWhat
SonWhataboutabout
your
yournightmare?
nightmare? Are Are
you
youstill
stillscared?
scared?

Oh,
Oh,they
theyare
aregone.
gone. Im
Im
going
goingtotohelp
helpthe
thecolony.
colony.
My
Myteacher
teachersaid
saidno
no
matter
matter we were smalloror
we were small
big,we
big, wecould
couldall allhelp
help, ,
Dad!
Dad!

I Iwill
willhelp
helpfishing
fishingand
and
spare
spareforforthe
thescout.
scout. I I
will
willhelp
helpwith
withthe
the
promotion campaign.
promotion campaign.
We
Wewill
willcelebrate
celebratethe
the
Tribute
TributetotoOur
OurHeroes
Heroes
Day
Daywhen
whenthey
they
Lesson 5 : Empower others to act. return.
return.
Life
Lifewas
wasboring.
boring. This
Thisisis
FUN.
FUN.

Strong,
Strong,Bright,
Bright,and
andhighly
highly
enthusiastic
enthusiasticscouts
scouts
jumped
jumpedinto
intothe
thewater
water
I Imust
musthelp.
help. and
andsearch
searchfor
foraanew
new
iceberg
icebergthat
thatisisgood
good
enough
enoughforforthem
themto to
move
moveto.to.

The
Thescout
scouthad
hadbeen
been
looking
lookingand
andtrying
tryingto
tofind
find
the
theanswer.
answer.

Jane
Janewill
willbe
beproud
proud
ofofme.
me.
When
Whenthethescouts
scoutsreturned,
returned,they
theytold
toldamazing
amazing
tales
talesabout
aboutthe
thesea,
sea,about
aboutswimming
swimminglong
long
distances,
distances,and
andabout
aboutnew
newiceberg
icebergthey
theyhad
had
seen.
seen.

They
Theyused
usedupupaalot
lotof
ofenergy
energyand
andwere
were
hungry,
hungry,the
thelittle
littlemember
memberof ofthe
theteam
teamgave
gave
them
themthethespare
sparesquid
squidfor
forfood.
food.

Lesson 6 : Produce Short Term

Win
The
Thelittle
littleone
onealso
alsogave
gavethem
themthe
themedals
medalsto
to
honor
honorthem
themas theirHeroes
astheir Heroes. .
 The
Thenext
nextday,
day,wasting
wastingno no
time,
time,the
thesecond
secondgroup
groupofof
scouts
scoutswere
wereoutoutto
tofind
findthe
the
right
righticeberg
icebergwhich
whichwill
willbe
beaa
safe
safehome,
home,have
havetall
tallsnow
snow
wall
wallto
toprotect
protectfrom
fromicyicy
storm,
storm,close
closeto
tofishing
fishingsites,
sites,
and
andlocate
locateononaaroute
routewith
with
enough
enoughfor forsmall
smallice
icebergs
bergs
or
orice
iceplateaus
plateausalong
alongthethe
way
wayso sothe
theyoung
youngandandoldold
can
canrest
restwhile
whilemigrating.
migrating.

Lesson 7 : Dont Let Up, Press

Harder and Faster After the
First Success
AAperfect
perfecticeberg
icebergwas
wasfound.
found. Later
Laterthe
thecolony
colony
move
moveto tothe
thenew
newhome.
home. TheTheyear
yearafter,
after,they
they
were
weremoving
movingagain
againto
tofind
findaabetter
bettericeberg.
iceberg.
Now
Noweveneventhey
theyfound
foundaaperfect
perfecticeberg,
iceberg,they
they
still
stillkeep
keepmoving,
moving,Nomadic
Nomadicbecome
becometheir
their
culture
culture

Lesson 8 : Create a New Culture

Just
Justto
towrap
wrapupup
These
Theseare
arethe
the
once
onceagain
again
Change
Change
Management
Management
Process
Process
 No one
Louise Buddy was believe
retired Alice took offered NoNo
becoming over Louise many jobs, anymore. Fred
only a
job as the but turn His become
grandfather
raising his
Head of them weather Head of
many niece the down and forecast the Scout
and Council stay with job is
nephews family handed to
Professor

Like
Likeother
othergood
goodstories,
stories,you
youwant
wanttotoknow
know
what
whathappened
happenedto tothem,
them,right?
right?
Thats the end of the story, but just the beginning for you
to think if your company is safe?

Are you sure the iceberg is not melting?