Change Management Principles
Reviewing change management principles, the Curve of Change, and the Change Cycle, it is easy to see that change does not happen overnight or on its own. It must be worked towards and is an entire process. Change within organizations, businesses, or communities affects the entirety of the system and the people within it. Everyone is affected, from the upper to the lower level, from stakeholders to employees. For any change initiative to be successful, you must first lay the groundwork and address several key issues.
- Sponsorship – you must ensure active support for the change from the upper levels of the organization, and that support will last throughout the initiative.
- Assessment – Taking a step back and ensuring understanding of where the organization is. Identify where you are, where you want to be, and how success will be measured throughout the initiative.
- Involvement – Identify who are the right people for the initiative. Make sure those people are involved in the design and implementation to ensure the appropriate changes are being made. The more those affected by the change are involved, the more they will accept the change.
- Impact – Assess, address, and anticipate the change’s impact on the organization, its operations, and the people involved.
- Communication – Clearly and frequently communicate the changes with everyone in the organization that will be affected and share progress towards the end goal. The communication should be two-way and provide opportunities for those affected by the change to offer feedback and concerns and ask questions.
- Buy-in – Getting buy-in from those who will be involved with the changes and affected by them, directly or otherwise. Communicate reasons for the change, why it is happening, and why now. Importantly, buy-in requires you to be able to explain the benefits of the change at both the organizational and individual levels.
- Readiness – Preparing those affected by the change for the change. Preparing them to adapt through resources, information, training, etc.
- Prioritize – You must carefully choose what aspects to change first to ensure a smooth initiative.
- Planning – Lastly, plan out a timeline for the entire change process. A timeline of where you are, where you want to be, why, how long it will take, and anything relevant towards achieving the ultimate goal. Establish a clear plan measured in achievable stages.
These are essential principles to follow when managing change. It is a process that should be carefully managed at every level to ensure a smooth transition. In the future, discussions of managing change at the team level will be necessary.
References
Advanced Controller and CFO Skills: Leadership Styles; Change Management. e-book, Durham, NC, Association of International Certified Public Accountants, 2021.
