Jean on the Job
Making changes while doing business hurts. It’s not like packing up one house and moving to another. You usually have to keep on keeping on while the change is supposed to be happening.
Our company just completed three change workshops in the last week. I am stunned at the response to change in industry. Corporate leaders say, “We want it, we believe in it, we think that change has to happen, but we also don’t have the precious time to think things out strategically and carefully.” These innovative leaders want to be creative, but they also must continue to design the circuitry, cut payroll, create marketing strategy and draw the layouts for next week’s products.
How can we change while we still do the full day’s work? Here are my conclusions after working very hard with a manufacturing company, a defense institution and a start-up software company.
Rules for Change:
Plan on:
1. Prep time: An awareness period: when you are getting ready to change Think, feel, practice about it…
2. Assess, plan, develop very small steps, one at a time and celebrate each step.
3. Prepare staff and customers for the transition period.
4. Teach creativity-thinking Out of the box.
5. Teach persuasion skills – you will be “selling” your changes every step of the way.
6. Allow for backsliding. You will all regress and fall into old habits.
7. Give yourself time to breath, grieve, and restore. It’s hard to change?.
8. Expect grumbling during the change period.
9. Applaud the hardy folks – soothe those who hold back.
10. Expect to put in extra hours and energy.
11. Plan to make-up time in the quiet periods.
12. Don’t waste time worrying about resources you don’t have – do what you can.
13. Prioritize so that some tasks are dropped- to allow for redesigned tasks.
14. Expect chaotic moments-the price for renewal.
15. Campaign for your changes – anticipate the feet-draggers.
16. Prepare customized rewards for all participants – ask what would help!
Jean Hollands, CEO, Growth & Leadership Center, author, Silicon Syndrome and Optimistic Organizations, is a management coach and corporate team-builder. Write to GLC, 1451 Grant Road, Mountain View 94040.
