Yertle the Turtle: A Leader of Change?

YERTLE THE TURTLE: A LEADER OF CHANGE?

Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle is the perfect vehicle for understanding Michael Fullan’s “The Causes and Processes of Initiation” and “Understanding Change”. Through an analysis of the King of Sala-ma-sond’s leadership styles, readers clearly see that Yertle does not have an adequate understanding of the change process. His goal to enlarge his reign, albeit selfish, might have been realized; it was, however, not sustained. Yertle does not create a climate for change, and his leadership style works to negatively affect the already established climate. Yertle meets resistance and does not work to establish internal commitment among his followers. Perhaps one of Yertle’s biggest mistakes is that his attempt at change does not take into consideration that he must reculture the turtles to accept change before his change can move to continuation. Although the story is simple, it is universal in its theme: change is a non-linear, complex mystery that can be “unlocked and even understood but rarely controlled” (Fullan, 2005).