Executing on Change

It is a fallacy to think that change is managed.  There are too many dynamics operational around a major change to manage.  However, change can be successfully implemented even in the face of naysayers and those who would build coalitions against a change that is critical for your organization. 

You can always count on death, taxes, shipping and handling, and CHANGE.  One reflection I like to make is how often Charles Darwin is misquoted about the survival of the fittest thing.  He actually said "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives.  It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."  Survival in an organization or a family, for that matter requires adaptability to a myriad of situations.  Those that don't change are bound for extinction! 

I like to coach managers that work with me that their role in change execution is LEADING THROUGH CHANGE.  They must keep their eye on the goal and be unwavering in that.  The path to get there is negotiable, but the getting there is non-negotiable.  A lot of stock is put in having visionary leadership.  Thomas Edison says that "Vision without execution is hallucination".  So I put all my efforts into EXECUTION.

What are the first moments like to your team when you announce a change....John Kenneth Galbraith says that "faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everybody gets busy on the proof."  Your team is unlikely to embrace change right out of the gate.  Your expectations should be realistic.  A wide range of emotions will flood among your team.  A friend of mine, Tom Hornsby in his book New Roles for Leaders (2000) written with Larry Warkoczeski points out that you should plan for resistance.  Here are the phases:

1. Business as usual - Be Happy!  (Denial)
2. Threatened and Angry - What's Happening to Me?
3. Create a coalition against change - What's happening to Us?
4. Create Obstacles - They're not getting away with this!
5. Destroy Success - Kamikaze mentality

So, what do you do, to execute successfully?

There are great tools available and you may need professional help.

My two favorites, I offer here:

The Complex Change System Component Effect shows in each box what is required for a successful change effort.  The output shows what happens if one piece is missing in the required elements.

My most favorite tool is the Standard Rollout plan.  Employees can handle the change better if they were involved early on in the design, they have the relevant evidence with regard to the need for the change, and the process is well planned.  This tool can be found at: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j9a2c9gnp4806g0/Standard%20Rollout%20Process%20WORD%202003%20VERSION2.doc

or downloaded from pages.
"Become a student of change.  It is the only thing that will remain constant"  Anthony J. D'Angelo