In business, change is necessary; however, change is difficult.
Leaders and employees are often resistant to change. But it pays to be more
strategic. Unfortunately, no one seems to know what being more strategic is
really about. This is where the psychology of change management comes in to
play.
According to John
Kotter, only 30% of change programs succeed. Being
strategic about change
management means a consistent
focus on core directional choices that have the best chances of leading to a
positive future. Consistency seems to be the key to success in change
management. Here is the process involved in the psychology of change management
in five easy steps:
1. What Are You Solving For?
Sometimes leadership becomes entangled in developing solutions for
problems that aren’t clearly defined. It’s a common dilemma that even the
largest companies aren’t immune to. Make sure the dynamics of any issue are
fully understood by everyone involved before devising any solutions. For
instance, purchasing CRM software won’t address issues caused by staff not
understanding how social media works.
2. Know the Starting Point
Where are you coming from? Are you underestimating the less
pleasant aspects of a situation? Is this sales slump an anomaly, or is it part
of a larger trend? Do you have an accurate and balanced picture of reality?
3. What are the Goals?
Can you imagine and articulate the desired outcome? If you can’t,
no one else will be able to either. Give others and yourself a clear sense of
direction.
4. Face Any Obstacles
Once goals are in place, it’s time to face any obstacles. Most
people overestimate or underestimate the impact of potential obstacles. It’s
important to be as impartial as possible in determining and facing obstacles
that occur.
5. Develop a Core Directional Focus—Then Get Specific
Developing a directional focus can enable you to focus time and
energy appropriately. Most motivated leaders move from vision to tactics
without developing strategies. This results in uncoordinated efforts that don’t
properly utilize resources and time.
The goal is to navigate through change and position yourself and
your business for a series of increasing successes. Following these five basic
steps can mean the difference between developing a hazy plan to be more
strategic. And when you become more strategic and reaping the rewards of
effectively implementing change.
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