ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some stories that explain the basic principles of change and transformation. All over the world people facilitate transformation through rites of passage, transition rituals that guide change and focus on its beneficial outcome. Rites of passage have three phases, namely separation, liminality, and reintegration. The chapter describes the shared aspects that make these rites of passage so successful: clarity of roles and responsibilities, appropriate use of rituals, management of insecurity, courage to learn during times of confusion. In some cultures these “rites of passage”, a phrase coined by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep, are similar to those of the Ndembu. The organizations have rites of passage—new employee orientations, formal promotions, swearing-ins, retirement parties. Organizations often fail to distinguish between the role of the shaman (priest), or change manager, and the role of the chief (tribal head), or general manager, even though their responsibilities could not be more different.
