Alexander Fleming - Penicillin

Happy Friday!

On this day, September 15, 1928, Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin while studying influenza. Fleming observed that a mold called Penicillium notatum had antibiotic properties that stopped the growth of staphylococcus bacteria. His accidental observation ignited widespread curiosity, while his open-minded experimentation paved the way for a life-saving antibiotic treatment. Further investigations into the properties and potential applications of this newfound substance revealed its extraordinary capacity to combat bacterial infections. The scientific community did not immediately recognise the potential of penicillin and it was not mass produced until the 1940s. Turning penicillin into a practical drug required systemic analysis, effort, and perseverance from Fleming and his collaborators. It is impossible to know how many lives have been saved by penicillin, but it is estimated that penicillin saved eighty to two hundred million lives.

Alexander Fleming told us, “It is the lone worker who makes the first advance in a subject; the details may be worked out by a team, but the prime idea is due to enterprise, thought, and perception of an individual.”  Fleming highlighted that transformative discoveries often originate from individual insights. However, realising their full potential requires systematic, collaborative efforts. Like turning penicillin from scientific discovery into a life-saving drug, today’s complex organisational challenges necessitate cross-disciplinary data analysis and teamwork to translate ideas into solutions. As change leaders, we must foster a culture that values data, learning, and perseverance to drive breakthrough innovations through collective efforts. Change Leaders Must Notice Anomalies.

“Change leaders, collectively analyse data to gain valuable insights, learn from failures, and persevere in order to achieve collaborative breakthroughs”

A sign of change leadership insanity is not using data from previous change initiatives, repeating the same failed implementation approach, and expecting change success. In reality, what has happened is another missed opportunity, wasted time and resources that could have been put to better use, and no sustainable change or return on investment. The change history assessment^© (CHA^©) can be used to assess and review the outcomes of earlier change programmes and initiatives. It provides organisational insights that may increase the likelihood of successful implementation through the analysis of lessons learned, mitigation of previous weaknesses, and enhancement of future success.

Have a fantastic weekend with the ones you love and care for, enjoy some fresh air, exercise, eat, drink and be happy.

Further Reading: Change Management Handbook - Leadership of Change Volume 3

Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change^®. He advises CEOs on how to prepare and align their corporate leadership teams to successfully lead their organisation's change.

For further reading please visit our websites: https://www.a2b.consulting  https://www.peterfgallagher.com Amazon.com: Peter F Gallagher: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Leadership of Change® Body of Knowledge Volumes: Change Management Body of Knowledge (CMBoK) Books: Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, A, B, & C available on both Amazon and Google Play:

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 1 - Change Management Fables

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 2 - Change Management Pocket Guide

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 3 - Change Management Handbook

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 4 - Change Management Leadership

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 5 - Change Management Adoption

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 6 - Change Management Behaviour

~ Leadership of Change® Volume 7 - Change Management Sponsorship

~ Leadership of Change® Volume A - Change Management Gamification - Leadership

~ Leadership of Change® Volume B - Change Management Gamification - Adoption

Coming soon:

~ Leadership of Change® Volume C - Change Management Gamification - Behaviour

~ Leadership of Change® Volume D - Change Management Gamification - Sponsorship

~ Leadership of Change® Volume E - Change Management Gamification - Leadership Teams