Everyone talks about Organisational Change Management.

But nobody tells you this:  I have experienced transformations that fail. Spectacularly.

But we ticked all the boxes?

• Executive sponsorship
• Lots of funky powerpoint
• Big words that everyone suddenly starts using
• Aggressive timescales
• Fantastic predictions of increased profitability and delivery

Notice anything missing?

Change is not about processes. It is about people.

As leaders you are failing if:

• You are simply shuffling the same pieces around the same board
• You are telling not listening
• You are planning in isolation
• You are building resistance not champions
• You believe that you know best ignoring the huge wealth of knowledge you pay for daily

People do not resist change.

Think about it.  People change all the time.  New phones, new cars, new houses, new partners. So, if they can do that easily (sometimes more than others) why is workplace change so hard?

Because workplace change is often done TO them not WITH them.

You cannot change successfully without your people – it’s only skin deep then and does not create the benefits you require.

• Start with why
• Create space for peoples voices
• Celebrate small wins
• Make it safe to fail
• Build visible momentum

The results?

• Resistance becomes curiosity
• Fear becomes participation
• Change becomes a conversation not a mandate
• The project becomes a journey

Change can be challenging, especially in the modern world, but if you do not want your biggest asset to become your biggest hurdle, bring them along with you.