Change put simply

Although change management actually is rocket science, it has often               surprised me who - at the end of the day - actually pulls it of and delivers a successful change project from a-z.

It turns out that the most successful change managers I've met, all are very capable - and likable - people with a seamless ability to communicate and interact with people, no matter where or at which level in the organization they are. They are genuinely curious and interested in other people's views and opinions, believe in the overall vision and are loyal to the company - and most importantly, they believe that the change they are pioneering will make tomorrow better than today.

They don't lead - people follow.

I guess the change management task can be boiled down to figuring out:

• Why change is needed
• What needs to be changed
• Who needs to be involved
• What role must/should I play

Once that is figured out - the task is to help others do the same.

Are you being followed?

Comments

[Sean Trainor]

Great blog.

In this post you have boiled the 'task of change management' into for drivers which are only related to ROCKET SCIENCE by the fact taht they are logical and RATIONAL. It appears that the boiling process has evaporated the more EMOTIONAL, less tangible and more effective drivers.

Research and experience shows that emotional drivers are far more effective than rational drivers, yet too many 'change managers' make a career out of implimenting the easier, tangible components of change with less effect.

To illustrate my point and staying on your rocket science theme, I'm sure you will agree that NASAs mission of 'Exploring the Moon Mars and beyond' is far more likely to inspire and affect real change than the logical alternative 'engineering for space flight systems, with a view to their practical solution'

Your insight into inspirational leaders who "believe that the change they are pioneering will make tomorrow better than today" is som true.

It's their form of 'change leadership' that inspires the NASA toilet cleaner to believe he is helping put the man on the moon.

Your boiled down form of 'change management' merely makes the same employee believe his role is to cut down on detergent and mop faster.

/St.

[Morten Ove]

Love that you manage to further develop the rocket science theme!

I couldn’t agree more – all though I believe that the most skilled and successful change managers are able to balance the rational, methodical and systematic approach to leading change projects with a more personal or emotional approach.

Also, I agree that changes are far more sustainable if people can relate and buy into the change vision on an emotional level.

The challenge is that the emotional drivers are anchored in the change managers personality and leadership skills and is fully dependent on the integrity and sincere interest and concern for other people. And that’s not something you learn over the weekend…

Regards, M.