Leading change isn’t easy!
“Begin with the end in mind.” – Stephen Covey
Leading change requires the right skills, attitude, and time commitment to be a change champion. Change leadership requires certain behaviors and actions. When I’m asked to help organizations lead change, I often begin by asking a set of questions. In order to lead change successfully, you must be able to answer:
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What matters to us?
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Where are we going?
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Who’s driving?
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What are we supposed to do?
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Why should I bother?
Many things can be the catalyst for change – technology, mergers and acquisitions, policy and mandate, various internal and external environmental factors. Regardless of what triggers the change – good change leadership is required for success. So if you’re involved in leading a change effort you have a responsibility. You must prepare yourself to lead change, prepare your staff for the change and sustain your team’s support of the change.I t’s not going to happen over night.
Here are 7 requirements for successful change leadership:
- Adopt a continuous improvement attitude
- Open communication and transparency
- Be accountable and take ownership
- Be trusting and trustworthy
- Encourage innovation
- Be a team player
- Walk the talk
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”
-Charles Darwin
As part of the change leadership team, you must lead by example, by also embracing the change. Don’t revert to the old way of doing things. Maintain accountability for executing on the new strategy and vision and using new policies and procedures, enforce the new vision and strategy amongst your employees and outline consequences for not working toward acceptance and commitment. Ask questions, stay engaged, and communicate, communicate, communicate!
About Scott Span, MSOD, CSM: is CEO & People Strategist, Communications and Change, at Tolero Solutions. He supports clients to engage and retain talent and wow customers, achieving success through people, creating organizations where people enjoy working and customers enjoy doing business.
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