Move by Patty Azzarello Summary

Move by Patty Azzarello provides a strategic framework for leaders to overcome organizational inertia and execute transformative change. The book introduces the MOVE model—Middle, Organization, Valor, Everyone—to address chronic execution challenges like resistance, misalignment, and short-term pressures. It emphasizes practical tactics to engage teams, sustain momentum, and defend new initiatives against reverting to "business as usual."

This book is ideal for executives, managers, and leaders struggling to implement strategy amid competing priorities. It’s particularly relevant for those navigating organizational transformations, launching new products, or entering markets, as it offers actionable steps to align teams and cut through bureaucratic stalls.

Yes—readers praise Move for its clear, experience-backed strategies to combat workplace inertia. Patty Azzarello’s 25+ years in leadership roles provide relatable examples, from prioritizing tasks to fostering accountability. The MOVE model’s structured approach makes it a valuable tool for driving measurable progress.

The MOVE model breaks down execution into four pillars:

• Middle: Navigating the challenging midpoint of initiatives where momentum often stalls.
• Organization: Structuring teams and resources to align with strategic goals.
• Valor: Making bold decisions and defending priorities against distractions.
• Everyone: Ensuring collective buy-in and accountability across the organization.

Azzarello advocates addressing fear and passive-aggressive pushback by clarifying roles, setting measurable short-term goals, and celebrating incremental wins. For example, breaking a 3-year strategy into 9-month milestones keeps teams focused and reduces skepticism.

Open, consistent communication is critical to maintaining alignment. The book stresses simplifying messaging (e.g., “30 deals in 9 months”) and using progress metrics to reinforce urgency. Leaders are urged to transparently address setbacks to prevent disengagement.

Azzarello recommends tracking leading indicators (e.g., “50 target accounts identified”) rather than lagging outcomes. This approach surfaces bottlenecks early and creates accountability. Metrics should align with strategic phases, such as validating market demand before scaling.

Key hurdles include resource misallocation, short-termism, and lack of personal commitment. Azzarello highlights how leaders often underestimate the “Middle” phase, where initial enthusiasm fades and competing priorities emerge.

Unlike theoretical frameworks, Move focuses on tactical execution—specifically, mobilizing teams past the halfway point of initiatives. It complements works like Atomic Habits (systems) and Good to Great (vision) by addressing the operational “how” of lasting change.

Yes. While targeting organizational change, its principles apply to individual goals like career transitions. The MOVE model’s emphasis on courage (Valor) and incremental progress helps professionals overcome self-doubt and distractions.

“Your strategy is not what you say it is. Your strategy is where you put your resources.” This underscores Azzarello’s belief that actions and investments—not mission statements—define real priorities.

The book recommends embedding new initiatives into daily routines through rituals (e.g., weekly progress reviews) and tying them to existing workflows. Leaders must also model commitment publicly to reinforce cultural adoption.