Saving Organizations That Matter: Ascending from the Confluence of Chaos is a practical guide to the turnaround and transformation of not-for-profit, mission driven organizations written from the perspective of someone who has been through many such experiences, whether as employee, consultant, manager, executive, CEO or member of the board. It features a number of strategies that can be deployed, often immediately, to help change the trajectory of organizations that are facing challenges and declining performance.

Rey Spadoni has been involved in a number of organizational turnarounds and transformations, some quite high profile, which have ranged from $5m programs to major divisions within multi-billion dollar enterprises. In one section of the book, he states: “The notion of a confluence of chaos can be likened to a tropical storm. Meteorologists study their causes and predict their expected trajectories. Those who are likely to be impacted follow these reports and act accordingly. Once the storm hits, however, those who are caught within it have little use for scientific data or predictive analysis.They are concerned about safety, survival and the status of their home and belongings.There is the top-down analytical approach to tropical storms and then there is the reality of confronting one from inside of it. So too with organizational chaos.”

The author has been within many such “storms” and understands the overwhelming feeling that employees, managers, executives and board members can feel as their organization is spiraling downward. There are theoretical books on this subject, but those within these situations are seeking clarity and speed and can be motivated often by urgency and fear.

Saving Organizations That Matter: Ascending From the Confluence of Chaos is for anyone in an organization that is experiencing struggle, seeking a way to improve, to reinvent themselves and to chart a new course. It is also for leaders in stable organizations who are actively working to avoid future decline and threats to their mission.

Before describing how to ascend from the “confluence of chaos”, the author first outlines the various reasons, some quite subtle, that cause such organizations to fall into disarray, likening this to a ship that sails perilously close to the edge of a plunging waterfall. With practical and actionable steps and strategies, the author seeks to inspire leaders to forge a new path for their organizations toward lasting, sustainable change. Having identified and systematically resolved institutional problems, including deeper cultural issues, mission-driven organizations can then sail toward calmer waters, better equipped to avoid such waterfalls in the future.